Other minority groups have it, so why can’t we? That’s what Director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, or LGBT Resources, Curt McKay thinks.

“Finding a space that’s going to be convenient enough that people will come and use the resources is a major factor,” McKay said.

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McKay is talking about extra space for special programming. Right now, their office in the Illini Union is too small for the 1,900 students interested in their services.

But beginning as early as January, that could all change.

Currently, there’s a conference room adjacent to their office. Their plan is to tear down the wall and put up glass to increase LGBT visibility. The Dean of Students acquired the space for them to share during the day with the Tenant Union and Student Legal Services.

However, when the sun goes down McKay sid it will be only for the Office of LGBT Resources.

“At night, I sort of envisioned rainbow curtains but it may be blinds or who knows what that will allow us to shut off the space,” McKay said. “And then we’ll be able to use it for programming so PRIDE will be able to have its meetings there if they want to.”

But McKay said the glass walls might scare off students who are nervous about coming out. The office’s current location is tucked away in a corner of the top floor of the Union, which allows students to protect their anonymity while seeking LGBT services.

“Well, we’ve had numbers of students who’ve said, ‘Well, you know, until I’ve had enough guts to come in, I’d pretend I was going to the Tenants’ union if I saw anybody behind me,” McKay said. “But if there’s a big glass wall out there, you know during the daytime, they’re going to be a little more visible when they come to our door instead of one of those other two doors.”

Ultimately McKay hopes to build an entire LGBT center on campus similar to the cultural houses on Nevada Street.