They both laugh.
“What does that even mean?” Auður asks.
I explain how we name our buildings and the statues around campus, honoring queer people in history. The longer I talk about RDU, the more pride I feel for my campus. The more questions they ask, the more I realize how much good RDU is doing.
We’re not just showing that we exist now. All the statues and monuments prove that we’ve always been here, even if the lens through which historians have relayed our lives has fogged it up so we only see one agenda. That doesn’t mean it’s the truth. It means they need history to fit into a box.
I love that there’s always something new to learn. A new queer person whom modern historians have tried to erase aspects of their person. We don’t accept that erasure, and we bring to light the truth as depicted by what they themselves have left behind.
As we round a corner, I catch sight of Kendrick. He and Miss Byndley, Dr. Albertson, and a couple of others from þórðargleði University are behind us, though quite a few paces back. Kenrick meets my eye and smiles. My stomach flips, and I smile in return.
“What else?” Einar asks.
“Well…” I say and remember my phone is in my pocket, so I pull it out to show them the Pride Room app. “This is strictly for RDU. It’s a combination of all popular platforms, but the ability to be a part of the app is controlled by admin alone, which adds a level of safety.”
“That sounds…” Auður trails off, making a face.
I grin. “No. It’s really cool. You can turn off the ‘safe mode’ and it’s no holds barred. Theonlytrue so-called community standards the Pride Room enforces are on hate, bigotry, and bullying. That kind of thing. Otherwise, they view us as adults, and since they control who has access to the app, that also means they can ensure thatonlyadults are on the app. There are lots offeeds you can get though, from world news, local news, campus news, and campus bulletins. There are clubs and worship. Get togethers. Smaller communities, like the polyamorous meetups. There’s speed dating, which a friend of mine has done, and he says it’s really fun and kind of wild.” My cheeks heat, and my voice lowers when I say, “There are also sexy things like sex party invites and stuff.”
“Wow, truly no filter,” Einar says, eyes wide.
“Yep. Oh.” I navigate through the app until I find the page for the Queer Palace Café and hand my phone over. “This is the best café on campus! But look how fun the names of drinks and stuff are.”
“Hairy Fairy?”
“Oh my god, Purple Dragon. Ohhh Brat Tamer.”
“Closet Queen.”
“Themshake.”
I grin as I listen to them laugh. “You can back out.” I point to the arrow at the top. “There are so many pages in that tab. They’re school pages, so you won’t see the dirty things. That’s in a different section of the app.”
It’s nice to listen to them talk about what they’re finding as they scroll through the school pages. It was novel when I first got on the app, but years later, it feels familiar now. Listening to Auður and Einar marvel at what they’re seeing reminds me again how special RDU is.
It’s easy to forget what makes it special when you see it every day. I didn’t think I’d miss the rainbows and monuments, but this campus feels so… empty. Maybe it looks different when there isn’t a blanket of snow covering everything like a veil.
“Man, I wish I could go see this place in person,” Auður says wistfully. “I bet it’s… breathtaking.”
I nod. “It is. I hope you can visit sometime.”
CHAPTER 16
KENDRICK
Icould lie to myself and say that following the path Brevan takes with the kids from þórðargleði University is happenstance, but that would be a lie. I keep him in my sight as we wind through the cold campus.
Byndley and I are accompanied by Magnus, Bjarni, who I think must be Magnus’ Byndley, and Jöhanna. Jöhanna is one of the instructors here though I missed which department she’s a part of.
As we walk around, I muse about just how long it’s been since I’ve been on a different campus. Where is all the color? It’s whitewashed because of the snow, but everything appears very monotonous. I didn’t expect to miss the vibrant rainbows, murals, and flags.
By the time we get back to the conference room, there are more hot beverages, as well as snacks. We’ve talked in general about the programs between the schools and how to grow their offerings, which is a little tricky because there are only so many young people enrolling in college in Iceland every year. They have to stay competitive to stay in business.
It’s true, but I feel that adding some unique courses might attract others. Such was the case when they modified acurriculum so that their student Helgi could attend her dream college and still follow her dreams of the career she wanted.
There must be a compromise in that. They’d attract more applicants from other places in the world with a wider range of programs. That’s one of the goals, after all. Make þórðargleði University universally appealing to attract more students, particularly queer students who need a safe place to study.
We listen to the conversations around us for a while as the students get warmed up. Unsurprisingly, my attention has largely been on Brevan. I might feel like a creep except that his eyes keep meeting mine too. It leaves me feeling relatively assured that he’s experiencing at least a little bit of the same attraction I am.
