Blog Post on the Urvashi Vaid Presentation

1. What were your expectations prior to attending this event?  What did you know about the topic before you attended the event?
I expected that it would be someone talking about equal marriage rights for a few hours.  I knew there was a movement for equal marriage rights but I didn't know how huge the movement is.

2. How was the information presented? Did the information presented at the event differ in any way from what you had learned or believed in the past? How?
She is a very strong public speaker so it was not difficult to sit and listen, she can really pull in her audience.  There is a lot of optimism in the LGBT community, you would never know that if you just listen to or watch the news because of all the negativity, bullying, and suicides that is reported concerning the LGBT community.

3. What was one thing that you learned from this event that you did not know, or had never heard, before?
The people in the LGBT community do not consider marriage a secular thing.  Only 6 states allow gay marriage, it is difficult for LGBT's to even get a civil union.  LGBT's believe that they are winning the fight and they see a near end to the fight.

4. Did the personal, professional, or academic background make the speaker an authority on the topic? Why or why not?
Yes, she is a LGBT activist and has published several books.

5. What can you take away from this presentation to assist you in your Alternative Viewpoints Paper?
My alternative viewpoints presentation is on lesbian mothers and I learned that kids in lesbian households have twice as a high poverty rate than kids in heterosexual households.

6. If someone in the class had the opportunity to ask a question, how did the speaker respond?  Was their answer satisfactory to you?  Why or why not?