LGBTQ+ professional events offer more than networking

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1686348254\/ldaekvgpekqvvyhfnc9s.jpg","id":"6636551"}],"caption":"Kevin Riley, Jr., AIA, and AIA President Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA, welcome guests to the LGBTQ+ Happy Hour , held during A\u002723 in San Francisco. "}]],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\nSan Francisco firm SWA Group opened its studio during\nA\u201923 to welcome LGBTQ+ architects and allies\nfor a happy hour, rooftop views, and drag performances. The sold-out event,\nhosted by AIA San Francisco and sponsored by AIA, SWA, Build out California, S\ufeffpace Plan Wizard, P\ufeffendergast Consulting Group, P\ufeffaulett Taggart Architects, and Y\ufeff.A. Studio, united design\nprofessionals from around the country for the opportunity to network and\ncelebrate their community and its place in the profession. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"San\nFrancisco architect Kevin Riley, Jr., AIA, took the lead on organizing this year\u2019s\nevent after attending the LGBTQ+ Happy Hour at A\u201922 in Chicago."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cIt\nwas my first conference, my first conference event, and it was just really\ngreat to be in a space of queer folks and the LGBTQ community. I met friends at\nthat event that become conference friends for the rest of the week,\u201d Riley\nrecalled. He collaborated with event sponsors and AIA San Francisco for months\nto ensure A\u201923 guests could experience the same sense of belonging. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Sarah\nNelson-Woynicz, AIA, an Atlanta-based architect, was among\nthe 200+ attendees. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cThere was a buzz you could feel as soon as you walked into the\nroom and an exhale to just be in a space with queer designers and allies, in\ncommunity,\u201d said Nelson-Woynicz. \u201cTo see so many from AIA leadership\u2014Emily\nGrandstaff-Rice, Kimberly Dowdell, Lakisha Ann Woods\u2014attend the happy hour\nspoke volumes by just being present.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[]],[10,0],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The reception is among several community-based events, like\ncollege alumni groups, which provide A\u201923 attendees the opportunity to network\noutside the conference. Riley says the intent is the same for the LGBTQ+\ncommunity, though LGBTQ+ events often provide unique opportunities for people\nto express themselves in ways that have not always felt accepted\nprofessionally. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cThe interaction\nI had that really struck out was with a transgender person who showed up at the\nevent presenting as a woman, which they said is not something they had really\nevent felt comfortable to do in a professional environment. They are a longtime\npracticing architect in San Franciso and never really felt that they could come\nto a professional architecture event expressing themselves that way, and being genuine\nin that way,\u201d said Riley, who was proud of the opportunity the event gave the\nguest \u201cto be themselves and be an architect, be professional but make a stance.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Riley and Nelson-Woynicz are hopeful professional LGBTQ+ events will\nbecome more common and that the event during A\u201923 is a small moment of a much bigger\nmovement. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\u201cLocal AIA chapters across the country\u2014Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Boston, New\nYork, Georgia, Phoenix\u2014are organizing events, hosting design competitions,\nengaging in advocacy, and are actively working towards a more equitable future\nfor this profession and our communities. The value is beyond quantifying\u2014it\nis at the core of how we all are engaged in increasing the equity, diversity,\nand inclusion of the profession,\u201d said Nelson-Woynicz. \u201cWhen people have the\nspace to thrive as themselves, things beyond what we could imagine are\npossible.\u201d"]]]]}