Sandra Bush (they/them) has psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES), a diagnosis that changed their life and also pushed them on a personal journey of discovery.

Bush, a Clark graduate and now Clark employee, shared their story with Clark students, faculty, and staff at the fall term Students with Disabilities Luncheon on October 22. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The purpose of the luncheons is to allow students and employees to hear inspiring stories, connect with faculty, meet new friends, consider different career paths, and identify community resources and potential mentors.

Bush spoke about how they learned to cope with their diagnosis and stop allowing society to define them.

“Society is going to always have something to say about your ability or lack of,” Bush said, and added, “Society doesn’t always get to make the rules.”

Reaching this conclusion was a journey after hearing negative bias from society and from family members when they were growing up. “I have a hard time loving myself as I am… I’m doing work to figure out what that means.”

Their seizures, which are triggered by emotional stress or typical stress, can be dangerous and cause Bush to get hurt. The exact triggers for Bush’s condition have evolved over time. They have worked hard on managing emotional triggers and have developed strategies like listening to music or watching a funny video. At the same time, the condition makes it challenging to work through stressful emotions.

When Bush first started experiencing seizures, they were frightening and dangerous. Being a Black person experiencing medical issues also changed how Bush was treated. Bush shared a story about an early seizure episode when they were alone at a mall and only had time to call their mother before falling to the ground and becoming unresponsive. When someone saw Bush on the mall floor, they made the racist assumption that Bush was on drugs and decided to kick Bush to see if they responded. The person stopped kicking only when Bush’s mother screamed through the phone. Finally, someone called 911 to get Bush help.

For the record, Bush noted, that’s not how you should treat someone having a reaction to drugs, either. They said, “People don’t always respond best to something they don’t understand.”

Getting diagnosed required a lot of tests. Even after getting diagnosed, they experienced some challenging times. Bush spent their first week as a college freshman in the hospital.

Bush worked hard to understand how their disability does and does not limit them.

They advised: “Sit with it. Do research about your disability. What does it say you can and can’t do? Test it.”

Bush described their own process of trying smaller things—like starting with shorter walks—then working their way up. They also gained the courage to ignore the judgements of others and lean into interests and hobbies, like jewelry-making and rock hounding, that don’t trigger their condition.

Bush offered the audience six questions to help them on their own journey of discovery:

1. Who are you?
2. What makes you YOU?
3. Who’s holding power over you and why?
4. What do you need to let go of?
5. Do you respect and love yourself?
6. What does changing the narrative look like for you?

Save the Date:

Next DEI luncheon – Students of Color Luncheon in the Penguin Union Building (PUB), room 161 on November 12 at Noon.

Connect with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI):

• In-person: Diversity Center, Gaiser Hall 214
• Phone: 360-992-2292
• Email: diversity@clark.edu
• Website: www.clark.edu/cc/diversity

Photos: Clark College/Carly Rae Zent

Diane DeVore (formerly Hernandez-Olortiga) has achieved some notable “firsts.” She’s a first-generation college student, the first member of her family to come out as queer, and a first-generation Latina in her family in the United States.

An academic advisor at Clark, DeVore shared her story at the first Queer Student Luncheon of the academic year on October 8. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to create community for students who identify as queer and allies.

DeVore grew up in Compton and Long Beach, California, and lived in a household committed to traditional gender norms, including her father who holds machismo world views. She was outed to her family when her father read her Myspace messages with her girlfriend. She said, “I was never afraid of myself, but I was scared of the world around me.” She was shaped by the pressure to come out early to a family that was not accepting.

When she had the opportunity to move out of her parents’ home, she took it. In college, she met queer and Indigenous mentors who allowed her to unlearn the gender norms and colonial thinking she grew up with. “In the queer community, especially, we ask ourselves hard questions… just by existing we are pushing against these boundaries every day.”

Her college journey was non-traditional. She dropped out twice but eventually earned her master’s degree in a primarily online program. She said “It’s okay to take breaks and step back. You’re not on anyone’s timeline but your own.”

When asked how her queer and Latina identities intersected, she said, “It took more unlearning than learning because of the machismo culture.”

Now, her relationship with her family is stable, she’s recently married, and she works at Clark helping students like herself navigate college.

She left students with three pieces of advice:

• “In the queer community, we are never really alone.”
• “Give yourself the space to grow and figure out who you want to become and unbecome.”
• “Together our stories help build for the next generation of queer community.”

Upcoming ODEI Luncheons

• October 22 @ noon: Students with Disability Luncheon in PUB 161
• November 12 @ noon: Students of Color Luncheon in PUB 161

Connect with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI)

• In-person: Diversity Center, Gaiser Hall 214
• Phone: 360-992-2292
• Email: diversity@clark.edu
• Website

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Vancouver Mayor Pro Tem Ty Stober was the guest speaker for the Fall Queer Luncheon on October 10 in the Penguin Student Lounge. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The luncheon is designed to create community for students who identify as queer and allies.

Stober is one of seven councilmembers for the city of Vancouver. He is Mayor Pro Tem, which means he serves as mayor in the mayor’s absence. He has served on city council for eight years.

Stober is also gay. He told the group that only 0.23% of elected officials nationwide identify themselves as LGBTQ.

“Our voices are radically underheard in politics,” he said, noting that he is the only LGTBQ elected official in a geographic area that includes six Washington counties. “I am standing here today so that students can see that representation in government is possible.”

Stober grew up in Canby, Ore., a conservative small town in Clackamas County. He was closeted in high school.

“I wanted so badly to fit in that I put on as good an act as I could of being straight,” he said. “I lived in constant fear that I’d slip up and be exposed.”

He graduated from Canby Union High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. He earned his MBA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I was very, very closeted when I was in college,” he said.

After grad school he was working in Baltimore when he met the man who would become his husband. They have been together for 20 years.

Stober first got involved in politics in 2009, when as a citizen, he canvassed for passing Referendum 71, which legalized domestic partnership in Washington. It was the first statewide referendum in the U.S. that extended to LGBT people the rights and responsibility of domestic partnership.

In 2012 he chaired the organization that backed Referendum 74, which legalized gay marriage. It became law in 2012. He has been a Vancouver councilmember since 2015.

Stober encouraged Clark College students to get involved with local politics. There are opportunities to attend city council meetings in person or online. People also can send an email to all the councilors. Learn more about Vancouver City Council meetings here.

“If you don’t feel safe in our community as an LGBTQ person or as a person of color, come speak at city council,” he said.

Stober invited people to start by getting involved in Vancouver by providing public comment to a variety of community projects in an online community forum, BeHeardVancouver.

“You need to tell us what you want,” Stober said. “If you want affordable housing, say, ‘I want affordable housing.’ If politics interest you, reach out to me.”

Stober has a two-decade career in sales, marketing and operations, with leadership experience in medium-sized, publicly traded and entrepreneurial organizations. He last served as an energy efficiency program manager for an organization supporting all utilities in the Northwest.

Upcoming DEI events:

• Students with Disability Luncheon, Tuesday, Oct. 24 at noon in PUB 161
• Students of Color luncheon, Tuesday, Nov. 7 at noon in PUB 161

To learn more, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s website.

Ty Stober, Council Seat 5

Current Assignments and Certifications

• National League of Cities: Vice Chair – Race, Equity and Leadership Council
• National League of Cities: Board of Directors and Board Policy Committee
• National League of Cities: First Vice President, LGBTQ+ Local Officials
• National League of Cities: First Tier Suburbs Council – Past Chair
• C-TRAN Board of Directors
• Vancouver Strategic Planning Executive Steering Group
• Vancouver Fire and Police Pension Boards
• Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (alternate)
• Metro Policy Advisory Committee (alternate)
• SW Regional Transportation Council (alternate)
• Association of Washington Cities Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership
• National League of Cities University Bronze Certificate
• Community Involvement
• NAACP, Member

Photo: Susan Parrish/Clark College

An attentive crowd of 80 students, faculty, and staff gathered for the Spring Queer Luncheon on June 8 during Pride Month. The free event is presented each term by Clark’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

A panel representing Clark students, faculty, and staff shared their journey toward discovery of their queer identity, their search for building community, and their challenges including feeling safe and navigating family relationships. The panel was moderated by student Sonia Talero Pachon. Panelists were:

• Student Matty Quinn
• Student Serenity Raewyn
• Alyssa Voyles, Director of Employee Equity, Outreach & Engagement
• Professor Christina Smith

Here is some of the panel’s discussion:

What was your journey toward discovering your queer identity?

“By the time I was 5 or 6, I knew.”

“Society tells us what’s acceptable. Parents have opinions. But I can re-embrace who I am. I feel a lot of us are constantly evolving.”

“I was in a toxic relationship because I was uncomfortable with who I was.”

What are some of the ways you have found to build community and support within the LGBTIQ+ community? And within Clark College?

“In the college’s Queer Agenda, we are about creating a safe space where people could be themselves and make friends.”

“It was through the amazing people at the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion where I started to find community.”

“I spent a lot of time in the Diversity Center, connecting with others. That’s when you find the most genuine people. You find the commonalities.”

“Community doesn’t just have to be in a physical space. I may not have a large in-person community, but I have developed a community online.”

What are some of the challenges you’ve had?

“Being part of the community, but still not feeling completely welcome.”

“I want to feel not just comfortable, but safe. I felt safer in Portland but moved to Vancouver. I don’t go out to eat in Vancouver.”

What are some ways you have found to advocate for the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community?

“For me, it’s showing up for others in the way I didn’t have.”

“I’m visible to my students.”

“My advocacy doesn’t necessarily come from standing with a sign that says Black Lives Matter or Love is Love—although I have done that—but it’s relationships. How we treat each other.”

What advice would you give your younger self or other people about being part of the LGBTIQ+ community?

“I have a good friend who in his late 30s attempted suicide several times. He decided in his 40s to live authentically. It is never too late to be yourself.”

“Find queer content you can identify with.”

“For Pride Month, let’s focus less on ‘Love is love’ and more on ‘Trans people are dying.’”

“I’ve always been the weird kid who didn’t have friends. I never went to any school dances. Don’t wait for an invitation that’s not going to come. Just go. Do the thing.”

“You have to walk through your own life. Find a way that’s comfortable for you.”

To learn more, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s website.

Photo: Clark College/Susan Parrish