Colorado saw a 74% increase in hate crimes in 2019 according to LGBTQ Colorado.

Students in Grand Junction deal with crimes of this nature, with one of the most affected population being transgender individuals.

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) has given resources to transgender students, but awareness still needs to be spread to the wider student body. Megan Beezley is a fifth year student double majoring in History and Business Administration. Beezley is the first transgender woman to hold a Senate seat in the Associated Student Government as well as the first to hold the House Speaker position for the House Appropriation Committee.

“Very early in the semester, we were on a discussion board and there was a male student that decided it was his job to out me. Now I’m very proud to be trans and I don’t hide that I’m trans at all, but that’s my job. I don’t need someone else to do it. I answered his question and I was kind of gruff. He was like, ‘If I could be so bold,’ I said, ‘I think you already have and yes, I’m trans and no, it’s not polite for you to do that. Nor is it any of your business,’” Beezley said.

The institution has clearly stood against any hateful behavior directed toward transgender students. In the Hamilton Recreation Center, staff gives all students the opportunity to use dressing rooms they are comfortable in. Beezley recalled that the person working the front early into her transition gave her a private space to change upon request.

“One of my happiest days is when I got a brand new MavCard with a super happy me. That was super exciting. To help out other students on campus, I got the [legal] paperwork and brought them to CIC, which is the Cultural Inclusion Council, and gave them to Ta’Lor Jackson [and explained] how they work. I think this semester, so far we’ve had about five students come in to request the documents to legally change their name,” Beezley said.

Beezley described how Student Services worked with her to make sure that the process is easier for other transgender students. She referred to herself as a “guinea pig” because she has played a big part about changing things on campus to reflect inclusion and equity.

Another transgender student focused on equity at CMU is sophomore Political Science major Jody Evans. She has worked with Genders and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) to host events and spread awareness. 

There are multiple organizations on campus that work with GSA and look up to them as an organization. GSA is one of many alliances under CIC and continues to grow.