On March 19, the 2025 LGBTQ+ Summit was held at the Center for Identity and Inclusion (CII) on the University of Pacific campus.
This year’s summit, organized by the CII, is subtitled “There’s More to Us: Centering Trans Narratives, Empowerment & Liberation” had a particular focus on the T in LGBTQ+.
In a year of particular turmoil for trans people, following executive orders that target gender non-conforming individuals and a rise in anti-trans rhetoric on a more local level, a focus on community became imperative.
“The goal was a celebration of love, a celebration of trans lives and centering trans narratives, ” said Yvette Quintana, assistant director of CII. “Centering just means that you are giving them the platform to share those stories and visions of the future.”
The event featured three panelists who spoke about the trans experience and advocacy from both the perspective of trans individuals and allies: James Pautnade, transgender advocacy specialist for San Joaquin Pride Center (SJPC); Andrea JuarezSmith, founder and CEO of Tracy Pride; and Leo Marquez, multimedia lab tech for Delta College’s Digital Media program and co-lead for Delta College Pride Coalition (DCPC).
“Being a trans man, I felt like, especially in the climate that we’re in politically right now. It’s incredibly important to be open to sharing my experiences to help others. So It definitely meant a lot to me to be a part of that panel,” said Marquez in an interview following the event. “I went into just hoping that people’s takeaway would just be that everybody has their own personal journey,” said Marquez. “It’s really important for people to just hear other’s experiences, because it allows them to view the trans experience in a different way,”
During the panel, speakers discussed several topics including how their own journey’s affected their advocacy.
Marquez spoke about the many hardships he faced including struggles with mental health and identity.
“It’s really just creating this visibility for our students, just knowing that they have resources, that they have people that they can go to, that they can go to safe spaces on campus,” said Marquez.
On top of sharing experiences, Marquez spoke about working to assist the LGBTQ+ community on the Delta campus through advocating for all-gender restrooms and preferred names.
“It’s the same way I look at parenting,” said Marquez, a single father. “I want my daughter to have a better life than I have and I want the same for our LGBTQ+ community.”
Pautnade highlighted how lack of community influenced and fuels his work for SJPC where he assists transgender people by providing resources.
“Being a trans person growing up in a super rural area, there is really nothing out there for a young queer trans kid to be around, there was no community really,” said Puautnade, who grew up in French Camp. “Going back to the quote where you know ‘change starts with community’ a lot of the time that starts with just creating community, if you don’t have it you have to find it.”
Prior to the main panel there were several workshops and speakers.
The event began with a workshop by Larry Levine, professor of law and associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, who spoke about the current state of LGBTQ+ rights in America.
Levine did not shy away from the dire state of affairs, highlighting legislation against LGBTQ+ people around the nation and noting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent comments condemning trangender athletes on his podcast.
“I expected that things would be bad after the last election, and I have to confess that things are so much worse than I even dared to imagine,” said Levine, who described himself as a “dark gay thundercloud of doom.”
“I always expect the worst so I can be pleasantly surprised and this time it’s not working,” said Levine.
Levine briefly addressed another event held on campus at the same time as the summit, hosted by the Pacific branch of far-right political group Turning Point USA and featuring a speaker who was critical of the existence of transgender people.
“This insidious event that’s occurring here on campus today,” said Levine referencing the Turning Point event. “I can’t think of a better way to respond than by bringing joy, by being upbeat and by showing those people what they’re missing.”
Even in the face of such adversity however Levine spoke of the power that community had to uplift and empower people.
“Let’s talk and see if we can hold each other close and raise each other up at a really, really difficult time,” said Levine. “We have folks who are fighting for us, who are the most amazing individuals and somehow they’re not getting worn down.”
Alongside Levine’s workshop were other events such as “Peaceful Pages: Art and Journaling for Emotional Healing” and “Transform Your Campus: Tools for Effective Organizing and Leadership.”
Following the discussion, city council members Mario Enríquez, Michele Padilla and Vice-Mayor Jason Lee presented a proclamation by the city of Stockton honoring Transgender Day of Visibility, which is celebrated on March 31.
“The city of Stockton stands with the LGBTQ community, the trans community,” said Enríquez. “We are staunch advocates to ensure that LGBTQ rights are protected and defended.”
The summit concluded with a drag show featuring drag performers LOTUS, Faye King-it, and Mx. Frizzle.
On March 19, the 2025 LGBTQ+ Summit was held at the Center for Identity and Inclusion (CII) on the University of Pacific campus.
This year’s summit, organized by the CII, is subtitled “There’s More to Us: Centering Trans Narratives, Empowerment & Liberation” had a particular focus on the T in LGBTQ+.
In a year of particular turmoil for trans people, following executive orders that target gender non-conforming individuals and a rise in anti-trans rhetoric on a more local level, a focus on community became imperative.
“The goal was a celebration of love, a celebration of trans lives and centering trans narratives, ” said Yvette Quintana, assistant director of CII. “Centering just means that you are giving them the platform to share those stories and visions of the future.”
The event featured three panelists who spoke about the trans experience and advocacy from both the perspective of trans individuals and allies: James Pautnade, transgender advocacy specialist for San Joaquin Pride Center (SJPC); Andrea JuarezSmith, founder and CEO of Tracy Pride; and Leo Marquez, multimedia lab tech for Delta College’s Digital Media program and co-lead for Delta College Pride Coalition (DCPC).
“Being a trans man, I felt like, especially in the climate that we’re in politically right now. It’s incredibly important to be open to sharing my experiences to help others. So It definitely meant a lot to me to be a part of that panel,” said Marquez in an interview following the event. “I went into just hoping that people’s takeaway would just be that everybody has their own personal journey,” said Marquez. “It’s really important for people to just hear other’s experiences, because it allows them to view the trans experience in a different way,”
During the panel, speakers discussed several topics including how their own journey’s affected their advocacy.
Marquez spoke about the many hardships he faced including struggles with mental health and identity.
“It’s really just creating this visibility for our students, just knowing that they have resources, that they have people that they can go to, that they can go to safe spaces on campus,” said Marquez.
On top of sharing experiences, Marquez spoke about working to assist the LGBTQ+ community on the Delta campus through advocating for all-gender restrooms and preferred names.
“It’s the same way I look at parenting,” said Marquez, a single father. “I want my daughter to have a better life than I have and I want the same for our LGBTQ+ community.”
Pautnade highlighted how lack of community influenced and fuels his work for SJPC where he assists transgender people by providing resources.
“Being a trans person growing up in a super rural area, there is really nothing out there for a young queer trans kid to be around, there was no community really,” said Puautnade, who grew up in French Camp. “Going back to the quote where you know ‘change starts with community’ a lot of the time that starts with just creating community, if you don’t have it you have to find it.”
Prior to the main panel there were several workshops and speakers.
The event began with a workshop by Larry Levine, professor of law and associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, who spoke about the current state of LGBTQ+ rights in America.
Levine did not shy away from the dire state of affairs, highlighting legislation against LGBTQ+ people around the nation and noting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent comments condemning trangender athletes on his podcast.
“I expected that things would be bad after the last election, and I have to confess that things are so much worse than I even dared to imagine,” said Levine, who described himself as a “dark gay thundercloud of doom.”
“I always expect the worst so I can be pleasantly surprised and this time it’s not working,” said Levine.
Levine briefly addressed another event held on campus at the same time as the summit, hosted by the Pacific branch of far-right political group Turning Point USA and featuring a speaker who was critical of the existence of transgender people.
“This insidious event that’s occurring here on campus today,” said Levine referencing the Turning Point event. “I can’t think of a better way to respond than by bringing joy, by being upbeat and by showing those people what they’re missing.”
Even in the face of such adversity however Levine spoke of the power that community had to uplift and empower people.
“Let’s talk and see if we can hold each other close and raise each other up at a really, really difficult time,” said Levine. “We have folks who are fighting for us, who are the most amazing individuals and somehow they’re not getting worn down.”
Alongside Levine’s workshop were other events such as “Peaceful Pages: Art and Journaling for Emotional Healing” and “Transform Your Campus: Tools for Effective Organizing and Leadership.”
Following the discussion, city council members Mario Enríquez, Michele Padilla and Vice-Mayor Jason Lee presented a proclamation by the city of Stockton honoring Transgender Day of Visibility, which is celebrated on March 31.
“The city of Stockton stands with the LGBTQ community, the trans community,” said Enríquez. “We are staunch advocates to ensure that LGBTQ rights are protected and defended.”
The summit concluded with a drag show featuring drag performers LOTUS, Faye King-it, and Mx. Frizzle.
