Author to host ally training event, discuss new book

Students have the opportunity to discuss LGBTQIA+ issues and learn how to become proper allies.

Jo Ivester, author of The Outskirts of Hope, will host an ally training event from 10-11 a.m. April 25 in Room 100 in Sarkeys Science and Math Center. 

Ivester uses her personal stories to discuss race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identification, according to her website, joivester.com.

Ivester will discuss The Outskirts of Hope with the audience in regard to race relations and religion. The story, taking place in 1967, is used as a comparison to issues in the 21st century. 

“Through sharing highly personal stories about their experiences, Jo makes the civil rights movement come alive and inspires her audiences to make a difference,” according to Ivester’s website.

Ivester is working on a book entitled Once a Girl, Always a Boy, which will discuss what it was like for her son to grow up transgender.

“We loved our son, whom we viewed as our daughter, but were clueless as to what he was going through or how we could support him,” Ivester said. “Because of that, we were unable to help Jeremy experience the kind of adolescence that he deserved.”

The book is scheduled to be published in 2019.

Russ Tallchief, director of student engagement, inclusion and multicultural programs, is organizing the event on campus.

“We refer to the ally programming as training because the programs are about empowering our campus community with knowledge and skills to better support our LGBTQIA+ students,” Tallchief said. “But these programs are not just about training in the literal sense—they are about growing our perspectives on gender identity so that we can grow as people.”

Kaden Mahle, dance freshman, is attending training session.

“We need things like this, especially in the South,” Mahle said. “Because so much that is publicized anywhere for us to look up to and aspire to is guided towards such a traditional life, knowing that the way you are is not wrong is incredible.”

Students may visitokcu.edu/joivester to RSVP for the event.