With the diversity of students on Temple University’s campus, it’s only right that there are organizations that appeal to the student body’s different needs. While not all students have the courage to act on this, such is not the case for Adult and Organizational Development major and LGBT Studies and Psychology minor, Margo Beckham.
With a little persistence from her professors, Beckham founded an organization that discusses and embraces being a person of color in the LGBT community. She describes Queer People of Color as “an umbrella organization that welcomes all individuals with different identities and backgrounds.”
“We want to provide a safe space for Temple students to discuss the intersection between queer identities, race, sexuality, class and gender,” Beckham adds. QPOC is not just for LGBT students or students of color, but all allies of the LGBT community.
Beckham is a Philly native and spent the majority of her childhood living in a tight-knit community in West Oak Lane. “If I got in trouble, my mom would know in 2.5 seconds,” laughs Beckham. She attended Philadelphia High School for Girls, unofficially known as Girls High, a magnet school on Olney Avenue.
Beckham first realized her inclination for LGBT activism when she partook in this past year’s celebration of National Coming Out Week. With the stage name Margeezie, she entertained and charmed in her dance rendition of Chris Brown’s “Take You Down.” She also played a larger role in NCOW when she shared her coming out story along with three other students. Her story was featured on the News Center of Temple’s website and viewed by hundreds.
As a transfer student from Cabrini College, Beckham was shocked at the reception she received from the videos. She came to Temple in the spring semester of 2012.
“I was surprised, I didn’t really think anybody knew who I was,” Beckham says. “People were writing me on Facebook, commenting on my videos, and talking about how I really inspired them. That’s something that really gets to my heart.”
While she has recently become one of Temple’s LGBT activists, Beckham’s proudest moment just occurred in the past week, when she reconnected with family and friends. As part of her recent 22nd birthday celebration, she reunited with her father and stepmother who came from Texas for her festivities. The visit meant a lot to Beckham because she hadn’t seen them in seven years.
“My family is very loving and caring. We don’t see each other a lot, but when we do, we have a lot of fun.”
As an aspiring military psychologist, Beckham’s future seems to be concentrated on serving others.
“I was just always fascinated with the military and I know that in order to change big problems like LGBT issues and women’s rights, you have to start somewhere. I know that by starting there, I can make a difference…People in the military need someone to talk to and I want to be that person that can help them mentally and emotionally,” she says.
Beckham’s current everyday routine is also focused on caring for others, as she tends to her dog throughout the day.
“A typical day for me is waking up, taking care of my puppy, feeding her, cleaning up after her and then going on with my day with whatever that I have planned,” Beckham explains.
Aside from QPOC and being a student, she works at H&M and will soon be working at Uncle Julio’s, a Mexican restaurant in Plymouth Meeting Mall. After she graduates in December of this year, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. In the meantime, Beckham also wants to hone her poetry skills through spoken word.