Retired Oklahoma City Police Officer Paula Sophia Schonauer will be one of the speakers at this year’s Transgender Panel from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 in CU2. The panel will give students the chance to hear from people in the transgender community, said psychology Professor Gregory Parks.

“Students will hear from people who are building our community, who are transgender and what that experience has been like,” Parks said.

Schonauer was an Oklahoma City police officer when she began the transition from Paul to Paula, Parker said. According to www.lgbtqnation.com, she ran for the District 88 seat in the House of Representatives in 2014 but lost by 22 votes.

The panel is part of the Human Sexuality course and it important because it encourages diversity awareness, Parks said. He said Schonauer will share background information about herself and students will be able to ask questions.

He said the class has partnered with Student Life to create two events for this semester. The next event is a Brown Bag session on Sexual Health with nursing Professor Jennifer Peters from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 23, in 1H8 in the Social Sciences Center.

For more information, contact Student Life at studentlife@occc.edu or call 405-682-7523.