Hello! Our names are Chris and Erin. We are two Seventh-day Adventist students attending Andrews University, and we want to discuss "The Rainbow in the Room" at our upcoming community event. We hope to engage our community in a conversation surrounding care for those in our Berrien family who identify as LGBT+. While it has long been a point of talk, we desire to bring this discourse to light in a new way. We believe that healthy dialogue—away from the mire of echo chambers— about subjects that can be challenging is of utmost importance to our togetherness as a community. Now more than ever, conversing with respect and good faith can and should be realized.

So, we are hosting our third-ever event on October 27th to give voice to people of all perspectives who would like to understand each other and learn more. Their exchanges will be held in small table talks with moderators, where community members can receive information as they share their perspectives.

We thank all those who came to our first two community events, where we all learned more about what academic research around the world and here in our town has shown us about care for LGBT+ youth. We have facilitated a range of discussion topics, from the impacts of ministries accused of conversion therapy to what it means to care for LGBTQ+ people from our different cultural backgrounds. One reason, among others, that we feel so passionate about hosting these conversations is that a group accused of conversion therapy has purchased the building across from the main entrance of the Andrews University campus, which hosts a local elementary school, high school, and community apartments.

After our past community events, we have heard overwhelmingly from community members who share various cultural, religious, and political beliefs that just having informed conversations with others has been a beautiful experience. Now, we plan to have another event in October to continue these informed conversations. To make that a reality, we need your help.

We thank you for your generousity and wish you a wonderful day!