Student adviser honored with award for human rights work

Hellen Harrell is the host of BloomingOUT, a board member of Bloomington radio station WFHB, a columnist and most recently the recipient of a human rights award.

The Bloomington Human Rights Commission recently announced her as a winner of the Human Rights Award for her efforts to improve the rights of those in the Bloomington community. Harrell earned the award through her participation and dedication to various organizations around the community.

From her radio show to her involvement in the Bloomington Black Business and Professionals Association, Harrell promotes equal rights and encourages diversity in the Bloomington community.

Harrell is not a novice to the equal rights movement. She has been an activist for a variety of campaigns for human rights for decades.

“I have always been an activist and strong supporter of civil rights,” Harrell said.
Today, one way she spreads her message is by hosting BloomingOUT on WFHB radio station.

“We do news that’s strictly related to the queer community,” Harrell said.
The show is the only one of its kind in Indiana.

The show is complex and, unlike some other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered shows, focuses on serious issues. There have been numerous guests on the show, from trans-activists to priests from lesbian- and gay-friendly churches. Some of these guests include Jason Stewart and the Kinsey Sicks. Artists and musicians from around the world have also participated on the show, Harrell said.

Harrell’s work at the station has been instrumental, said Carolyn VandeWiele, president of WFHB.

“She has done an incredible amount of work and has kept the station going,” VandeWiele said. “They took an idea that hasn’t been done before in Indiana and made it happen because it was something they felt was important.”

Harrell is also the adviser for the IU OUT GLBT Student Union and co-adviser for an undergraduate Native American group at IU.

“She has been on our side no matter what and catered to the needs of OUT to keep it on campus,” said Joshua Sutton, junior and president of OUT.
Harrell has been involved with OUT for many years.

“She is an intricate part of the program.” Sutton said.

Another group that Harrell is involved in is the Bloomington Black Business Association, an organization that supports and promotes more diversity and encourages local black business owners to succeed, Harrell said.

She also often writes about feminism and racial issues for the Bloomington Alternative and The Word. It is just one of the many ways that she gets the word out about human rights, Harrell said.

“She is tenacious,” VandeWiele said. “She is incredibly hard-working. She goes after what she believes is right.”