Kasey Catlett always knew he wasn’t like other boys.
He grew up knowing something was different about him, and it made his childhood difficult. He later realized the reason he felt different was he is a cisgender gay man.
Growing up, Catlett was never surrounded by other LGBTQ individuals or groups. It wasn’t until he moved to Washington, D.C., and became immersed in a diverse community when where he found others like himself.
“I really became comfortable in my skin,” said Catlett. It was in Washington, D.C., that Catlett realized he wanted to help the LGBTQ community.
Catlett has created events for the LGBTQ community such as the Queer Tour, the LGBTQ Ally Meet ’n’ Greet, open mic nights, trivia nights, Lunch and Learns, and the Mosaic: Social Justice Symposium. Catlett advises groups such as the Greek Ally Task Force and Sexperts, which Catlett said was his favorite.
The Greek Ally Task Force is a group that works to make Greek life spaces more LGBTQ friendly.
Sexperts, a sex education group, is a program that combats unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases by conducting two-day training sessions as well as going to classrooms, residence halls, and Greek houses to give an hour-long presentation about STDs and pregnancy with a gameshow format.
Catlett was awarded the 2013 John D. Lemon Social Justice Award, the 2017 Award for Promising New Professional by the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, and the 2017 Voices of Courage Award by the University of Oklahoma Women’s Gender and Studies Program.
He said he looks forward to serving The University of Texas community and to make it a safer space for LGBTQ students, just as he had at The University of Oklahoma.
