“Welcome to SAGA. Sexuality and Gender Awareness is a place where we strive for everyone to feel welcome, safe and valued … ” These are the words that start off every SAGA meeting, beginning a time of fellowship and community that can branch in many directions. SAGA meetings have been adapted to any number of formats: from lecture style teaching to group discussions, guest speakers to board games, mentors to movies, SAGA does its best to do a little bit of everything.

Founded in 2007 (the group will be celebrating their 10th anniversary this spring, so keep an eye out!), SAGA is a group dedicated to peer education around topics of sexuality and gender, and it is open to LGBTQ+ students and allies alike.

Another part of SAGA’s vision is to create a campus climate that is safe and welcoming for LGBTQ+ students by providing opportunities to learn about LGBTQ+ identities and for the Calvin community to show their support (getting a “You Are Loved” shirt is a great way to do so!).

SAGA meetings are a time of community building and peer support, where friendships grow and are strengthened, where highs and lows are shared and where Christian community comes together to perform some of the functions that should be characteristics of the church — to laugh with the joyful, to cry with the mourning and to break bread (or pizza) together.

To be LGBTQ+ on Calvin’s campus isn’t always easy, but SAGA is one of the places that works to make sure everyone in the Calvin community knows that they are loved by God and made in God’s image.

If you’re interested in joining SAGA, or interested in finding out more about what we’re about, you can join us Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in the Alumni Boardroom in the Commons Annex (there will be pizza). If you’re not sure if that’s your style, look us up on Facebook or email [email protected] or [email protected] and ask to be added to the SAGA email list. You are loved!