Visible Voices | Pride Resource Center

Applications to join Visible Voice are now open! Scroll to learn more.

Visible Voices is an educational program made up of CSU students, staff, faculty, and community members who volunteer to share about their experiences and coming out stories in panels and other programs. This popular program has been a valuable educational tool used to inform others about the often misunderstood issues surrounding LGBTQIA+ youth and their families, and to serve as possibility models for younger LGBTQIA+ people.

Our volunteers speak in classrooms, CSU department meetings, high school and middle schools GSAs, youth groups, local faith organizations, and more.

Scroll down to request a panel or volunteer with us!

Learn More About Our Program

to educate the Colorado State University community and the public about what it means to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex or an ally of LGBTQ+ people and communities;
to dispel myths and stereotypes about LGBTQ+ people;

to build understanding and acceptance through open and honest dialogue;
to provide positive role models of LGBTQ+ people and allies and to let other LGBTQ+ people and allies know that they are not alone.

to offer LGBTQ+ and heterosexual/cisgender ally-identified students, staff, faculty, and community members an opportunity for self-growth and training in leadership skills, such as public speaking.

Panels typically consist of three to four people, who are part of the LGBTQ+ or ally communities.

The panels consist of five separate segments: personal introductions, introduction to the Pride Resource Center, standard questions (coming out stories, what is it like to be LGBTQ+ in For Collins, what do we look for in allies, etc), Q&A, and evaluations. This provides a structure for the group we speak with and the panelists.

We distribute blank index cards, and then ask for all of them to be turned in. This helps people feel comfortable asking us questions.
Additional questions can be submitted ahead of time to tailor our content to your group.

Here are a few takeaways from those who experienced a Visible Voices panel:

"The panelists were outstanding as well as the presentation. Their personal stories are so powerful. My students responded in a powerful way and were very appreciative. I can't thank you enough and I will be in touch again soon."
"My students appreciated their honestly, their humor, and their very personal stories."
"I learned coming out is an ongoing process and every story is different."
"The panel is helpful to my students in adding to their overall understanding of how to support all students in their future classrooms."
"Their presentation and discussion were both highly informative and meaningful. My students expressed having learned a great deal...and said that the Visible Voices program is both important and valuable."

I Want to Volunteer!

Volunteering is a great fit for folks looking to get involved in the local Fort Collins LGBTQIA+ community and develop skills in peer-education and presenting. We have volunteers who are students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members - all are welcome to apply.

Visible Voices 2022 Volunteer Application

Applications are due by Friday, September 14th.

Mandatory Volunteer Training is Sunday, September 18th on campus at CSU.

I Want to request a panel!

We’re glad you are interested in hosting a panel. Panels are a great fit for classrooms, churches, residence halls, staff training, and other opportunities in which participants could benefit from asking questions directly to LGBTQ+ community members

We ask that you submit a request form at least three weeks out from the date requested and include any specific information that would be helpful for our volunteers to know so that we can best tailor our content to your curriculum or audience. We will do our best to follow up with you within three business days of submitting a request form.

As a panel requester, we see you as a partner in setting up an environment conducive to learning and supports the Principles of Community. While our panels are self-facilitated, we ask that the requesting party ensure a staff, faculty, or student leader be present to assist with engaging and interrupting any bias that may occur while we are guests in your space. Examples of incidents of bias include, but are not limited to any activity that intimidates, demeans, mocks, degrades, marginalizes, or threatens individuals or groups based on that individual's or group's actual or perceived identities (ability, age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, parenting and pregnancy status, race, religious practice, sexual orientation, veteran status, creed, color). Our volunteers will work to answer all questions from an educational lens, and can opt to not answer any question they choose. If you have questions about this expectation, please email our Assistant Director at Maggie.hendrickson@colostate.edu.

Click here to submit a Visible Voices Request.