Joanna Villegas, the assistant director of student programs and leadership at the Gender Equity (GenEq) Resource Center, plays a pivotal role in supporting LGBTQ+ students at UC Berkeley. Located in the César Chávez Student Center, GenEq is committed to fostering an inclusive campus climate through various programs and events.
Villegas shares their personal journey as a queer, pansexual, nonbinary femme and discusses how their identity influences their work. They emphasize the importance of being visible despite potential risks, stating that “safety comes from having a support base” rather than hiding one’s true self.
Growing up in Logan Heights, San Diego, Villegas learned about social justice through personal experiences and community support. This background led them to pursue education and eventually transfer to several University of California campuses after attending San Diego City College.
At GenEq, Villegas focuses on creating an inclusive environment for all students by running a student internship program that connects with both undergraduate and graduate students. The center’s initiatives include the Trans Student Wellness Initiative and Queer Cal Pals, which aim to build social circles for new students. Additionally, they organize events like QTPie, where around 300 students gather to celebrate their community.
Villegas highlights the significance of intergenerational conversations within these spaces: “Every generation brings up new questions for the previous generation,” they note. Despite challenges faced by trans communities and others targeted by discrimination, Villegas remains hopeful about the future: “There’s so many of us who are rooting for our survival, and not just our survival but our thriving.”
