Bear Closet

Bear Closet aims to create a platform for the LGBTQ+ community to share their personal narratives with middle school and high school students in the Berkeley area. MISSION Bear Closet aims to create a platform for LGBTQ+ students to share their personal narratives with middle and high school students in the Bay Area. We encourage members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community to serve as mentors and advocates for the equality of all identities by sharing their personal journey toward self-love and acceptance. Through class discussions and projects, we will explore LGBTQ+ experiences and learn more about the community and how we can best serve it. In addition, students will also be provided with public speaking opportunities that will help inspire Bay Area youth to take pride in their identity and fight for a stronger, more inclusive future. WHAT WE DO Bear Closet is a community-based organization and DeCal course offered at UC Berkeley dedicated to training and preparing students to speak at middle and high schools regarding LGBTQ life at college, through the Pacific Center’s Speaker’s Bureau program. Such services are essential to motivate LGBTQ adolescents to pursue higher education with the reassurance of a better, more inclusive future they may look forward to in college. Our organization and course are open to students of all genders and sexualities (including straight, cisgender allies), and will facilitate students’ volunteer work with LGBTQ support organizations, including the Pacific Center and Center for Educational Partnerships.We welcome anyone interested in sharing their queer-related stories and experiences (i.e. personal, of a friend/family member, etc.) at middle and high school classrooms, in hopes of motivating out or closeted youth to pursue college education with the assurance of a better future. Rather than strictly focusing on assignments and deadlines, our two-unit DeCal prioritizes class discussion and bonding among its members, for the sake of establishing a strong base for community service.