As part of Hispanic Heritage Month and LGBT History Month, Ohio University welcomed the award-winning poet and LGBT activist, Emanuel Xavier, to a crowd of nearly two hundred students and faculty on the night of Oct. 14.
Seated on a pedestal in a modestly lit conference room, Xavier captivated the audience with readings from several of his acclaimed poems that shed light on the struggles of growing up homeless. At 16, his parents kicked him out of the family’s home for being gay.
Xavier said he spends his time advocating equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of society. Expressing his life and the challenges he faced through poetry enabled him to break tradition from stereotypes among colors, comparable to how one would “crack a coconut over a stone,” Xavier said. Smashing at barriers to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality caused his popularity to soar among activist groups, gaining him international attention. His message of equality resonated with world leaders during a speech at the United Nations in 2010.
Xavier spoke on issues involving homeless youths in the United States. In a study conducted in 2012 by the Williams Institute, 40 percent of homeless youths under the age of 18 identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender; with their gender identity contributing to their homelessness. Xavier has turned his attention to raising awareness about the large number of homeless youths without education and assistance.
After his interview, Xavier hosted a Q&A session that resonated with the audience. Among the various questions, one theme stood out— students expressed concern about how to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, despite not personally identifying themselves as such.
“It’s important to come together and fight for our common interests,” Xavier said.
The evening concluded with an electrified audience handing out numerous rounds of applause for Xavier.
A Few Simple Words 