SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Freedom of expression is what the LGBTQ+ community is all about, and at Syracuse University, students had an opportunity to express themselves on the university’s quad – using chalk.

Emily Stewart, the director at Syracuse University’s LGBTQ+ Resource Center, said she hopes this can be a time to celebrate community members.

“Educate, advocate, celebrate,” Stewart said. “Whether folks are out and open or they’re not or are kind of figuring it out, it’s kind of a time for everybody.”

Other members at the center also are dedicated to a safe space on campus.

“Not only do we want you here on campus as a queer student, we want to celebrate you and we want you to be seen,” said Jordan McGee, the program coordinator.

Twenty years ago, in October 2004, as thousands of people across the country rallied against gay marriage ballot initiatives, Stewart was in high school ready to come out to her family.

“When I came out to my mom, who was super supportive and had a lot of queer friends, her response was, ‘You’re a teenager you don’t know what you want,’” Stewart recalled. “But around all this time was when a lot of anti-queer hate was happening in schools, and she didn’t want me coming out at school to be weaponized as a means for bullies to target me.”

Now, Stewart uses her experience and works alongside other queer youth to provide better resources and opportunities for support.

“It’s important to have an event that, one, highlights the history, but also uplift the voices of those people — especially on campus,” SU senior Tatiyyanah Nelums said. “Syracuse being like a PWI (predominantly white institution), it’s really important that we have those spaces for marginalized communities.”

While SU has access to these resources, there are many states in the country that have axed programs for queer youth in schools. Some schools in other states, like Florida, passed what opponents called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in 2023 that bans institutions from teaching students about gender identity and sexuality.

“I have colleagues in other states that cannot do this work,” Stewart said. “I have friends who teach in schools in other states that cannot even talk about sexuality, or they will lose their jobs.”

People like Stewart that are working to advocate for more equality are eager to see change.

“I’m really excited to see how this fight from queer youth continues moving forward,” Stewart said.