The Moorpark College Spectrum Club welcomed artists Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover on Thursday for a panel discussion and reception regarding their photo essays.
The photographs are on a pride parade held in the ’80s and a gay prom held in 2014 to show how much the LGBT community has progressed since the parades first started.
The panel discussion was held in room PS 202 from 1 to 2 p.m. and included not only Bromberger and Hoover, but three students from the Spectrum Club, including Nick Sheppard, 26-year-old technical arts major.
“The event was very conversational,” said Sheppard. “A lot of different topics were discussed and it brought up good conversations.”
The reception showcased photos from Bromberger and Hoover’s “San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade: 1984-1990″ and ““The Gay Prom: Portraits of LBGTQIA Teens in Our New World.” These photos are meant to show how much the issue has progressed over the years, said Hoover.
Megan Scofield, 19-year-old kinesiology major, was really pleased with the how in-depth the discussion was and said her favorite part of the event was discussing the gay prom photos.
“I just saw genuine happiness from the photos,” said Scofield. “It felt that they were very accepting of themselves, even through all the struggles they faced.”
Back in 1984, Bromberger was working for the local newspaper in Hayward, California when he met Hoover, who was a college student and a self-taught photographer. Among other projects, they documented the Gay Pride Parade, which Bromberger found similar to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.
When showcasing their photos in high schools, Bromberger was shocked to realize that this part of history wasn’t taught to students. This drove him to create projects to document it, hoping that in later years people would see a difference.
“It was nice to seeing the different groups of the organization, people in the gay community and not gay community, but supporting them and just marching for their civil rights and celebrating this one day to express themselves,” said Bromberger.
Students had statements filled with issues they saw in society or things they personally wanted to discuss. The discussions covered how much diversity in the pride parades have changed and how the issue is bigger in smaller towns.
One of the main ideas discussed was whether labels are necessary or not. Many students argued on why it’s important, while others disagreed or understood both sides.
Nick Castro, 18-year-old theater major, said he enjoyed the discussions they had and felt a very positive atmosphere.
“It’s good to know the struggle from our people and how they helped get to where we are now as far as rights,” said Castro. “I just want people to be opened minded when they hear other people’s stories.”
Sheppard and Castro both want people to understand how small gestures such as their actions, words and art can impact the greater society and people around them.
“Hopefully, you don’t have to define yourself by your sexuality,” said Hoover. “They just want equal rights.”
