Natalie Eltzeroth, a sophomore English and English education major at the University of Georgia, is co-president of the UGA Pride Alliance, an organization supporting the LGBTQ+ student community. 

 

Q: What are some of your aspirations and goals that you have had throughout your life that led you to take this position? 

Well, I’ve always wanted to help people. That’s kind of always been where I saw myself growing up — in some kind of position where I’m doing something for some kind of underrepresented group. So yeah, I feel like that’s definitely been one of my main aspirations. And then also just I guess, giving a voice to disenfranchised populations, especially here. Sometimes it’s hard to be super out, just because that’s not really like, what the perceived culture is at UGA. I just kind of thought that was something important to be out about and proud, and allow people to have that space.

 

Q: What is your favorite part of the leadership position?

It’s kind of hard to condense it into one thing, but I just really love being a part of something bigger than myself. And just feeling like oh, there are a lot of people that enjoy the club, and I get to kind of work as a team, you know, on a smaller scale with my exec board and collaborate and everything. And I really like that aspect of it feeling like I’m making a difference with other people.

 

Q: Why do you think it is important that the Pride Alliance is student run? 

Because I feel like, what gay students need is representation of other gay students. So I think it’s important that you see yourself reflected in other people. And also, it just hits different when somebody your age is, I guess, making something that you want to be a part of, it feels less like organized and more like, real.

 

Q: Why do you feel that the Pride Alliance  is an important organization to have? 

I think because again, representation. If we didn’t have a Pride Alliance at UGA, I feel like it would feel pretty lonely. I wouldn’t feel like there were a lot of people like me in that way here. And I wouldn’t feel like I could really find a sense of community in that. So I think that’s important for people to be able to find that.

 

Guinevere Grant is a sophomore majoring in journalism and criminal justice.