Robin Matthies, 27, (right) is a sociology major at Northeastern Illinois University and is president of the university’s GLBT group. Robin organized the first ‘Coming Out Ball’ at her university two years ago, giving all proceeds to the Test Positive Aware Network for HIV/AIDS and the Lesbian Community Cancer Project. The Ball was a huge success, attended by professors, allies, community members and students and was an inspiration for other universities which have since had ‘Coming Out Balls’.
Robin is also a member of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance at her school and in March, Robin organized a walk-out on her campus to demand rights not only for the GLBT community, but for all students. Approximately 450 students participated in the protest and an increase in student attendance at GLBT meetings followed, she said.
Robin also works at Star Gaze bar and said her bosses there have been supportive of her activism. At Star Gaze, Robin has held charity events that have raised awareness of everything from the death penalty to equal housing rights.