Perez, who has worked with a student group called Harvard Primus that specializes in first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students at the school, added, “My mind immediately in the morning went to everyone else. I was like, ‘I know how bad this is going to hurt my community and the people that I hold close to me.’”Before announcing on March 11 that “Harvard will provide you the help you need to stay safe, secure, and continue with your academic work. ... Students who need to remain on campus may need to relocate to a different room or unit in line with the University's goal to reduce prolonged proximity and the potential for transmission.” I quickly learned that everyone has an idea about what it means to be a woman — whom you should love, how you should dress, the words you should use to describe yourself. Being married to a woman didn’t negate my prior or future relationships with men, so when I refused to use the word “lesbian,” I received pushback from women who experienced such a dearth of lesbian representation that any nuance in sexuality or gender was disregarded. recognizing the rights of LGBTQ+ young people. The case inspired my first charitable donation, and their courage has stuck with me to this day.