Siena Heights University is hosting another well-renowned guest speaker at the Allies and Advocates workshop. Social justice activist educator T.J. Jourian will be speaking at SHU Oct. 5.

The Allies and Advocates workshop will be addressing the topic of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI). There will be three one-hour sessions at noon, 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. The workshop will be in Rueckert Auditorium and is open for anyone interested in the topic.

Jourian arrived in the U.S. from Cyprus in 1999 as an international student at Michigan State University. When he arrived to the U.S., his passport identified him as a female. Jourian is classified as a female-to-male transgender individual. He identifies himself as a pansexual queer. Jourian’s background gives him great knowledge about LGBTQI, as well as strong perspective on oppression and social injustice.

He is currently finishing his PhD in higher education at Loyola University in Chicago. Jourian gives talks all over the U.S. about LGBTQ issues as well as oppression and social injustice.

The seminars are designed to provide the SHU community with foundational education on terminology and information concerning LGBTQI people. It is open to the entire Siena community.

For any further questions, please contact Assistant Professor of Art Erin Zerbe at [email protected].