‘We are essential’: Conference at GCC promotes diversity, inclusion on island

Guam Community College on Wednesday hosted a panel of influential professionals in the community who shared their views and experiences on being LGBTQ on island.

GCC administrators said the “Engagement+Empowerment+Equity=Diversity & Inclusion” conference was part of an effort to promote equality through discussion.

“People are not mean or discriminate or treat you badly because of who you are – they do it because of who they are,” said Samuel Betances, internationally renowned author and speaker. “It is the meaning they place on sexuality. There isn’t one person in our island who claims to be straight that does not have somebody in their family network who is gay, transgender, lesbian, gay – part of the LGBTQ community.”