History junior Ebon Pinson said a lot of people don't tend to understand lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgender people.
"They have their own biases and prejudices," Pinson, founder and president of MSU Same Gender Loving Students of Color, International students and Allies said, adding the misunderstanding is the reason he spends so much time trying to straighten out misconceptions.
"Many people don't understand that LBGT is a culture," he said. "It's very important to volunteer because you can gain an understanding and learn about a culture."
Volunteering and actively taking part in the LBGT community is the reason nine activists, including four MSU students, will be honored at the 10th anniversary of the Prism Awards Ceremony on March 7.
The Lansing Association for Human Rights, the organization sponsoring the event, will also give out 30 certificates awarding community members active in contributing.
Social relations junior Natalie Furrow, management graduate TJ Jourian, interdisciplinary humanities senior Nicole Ramp and Pinson along with MSU alumna Carrie Rowe and LCC Trustee Todd Heywood have spent significant time within the LBGT community, volunteering and working to bring more awareness of LBGT issues into the Lansing area. Other winners include the Rev. Jon Lacy, Joseph Marutiak and Susan Crocker.
Heywood, the spokesman for the awards, said volunteering is important in all aspects of the world.
"I think volunteerism is absolutely essential," Heywood said. "It's important because it gets us out there as well as provides a support network for those who are just coming out because it helps to have a role model."
Heywood became an activist in 1990 and has since won two Prism awards for community advancement and advocacy. He is also the first openly gay man serving on a board of higher education in Michigan.
Rowe, the Prism Awards producer, is also being honored for her work. She is the secretary of the Lansing Association for Human Rights and has also been an active member on the Lansing Equal Rights Task Force and The Lesbian Alliance. Rowe describes herself as a human rights activist and added LBGT is a civil rights issue and volunteering is important.
"People are generally more committed into something they have a personal connection to," she said.
"If you're part of a minority group and you're in a situation that needs some work in this world then that is generally something you should work with."
Furrow is the chairperson of MSU's Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students, attends LBGT meetings in the residence halls on campus and is involved in several other organizations.
"As a whole, the LBGT community is marginalized and discriminated against," she said.
"I think that it's always important to understand how multiple impressions and identities interact to intensify the marginalization."
Furrow said the strongest quality a leader can have is the willingness and ability to change and learn.
"No one is perfect and no one can understand every issue," she said.
"But if you're willing to recognize your own flaws you can make progress."
