Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues are more than just a hot-button campaign topic to the organizers of “STAGE LEFT,” an LGBT performance event featuring past and present Riverland Community College students.

“It’s a mix of people who support LGBT causes,” said Kirsten Lindbloom, chairwoman of Austin’s Human Rights Commission.

“STAGE LEFT” stands for Straights and Gays for Equality — Listening Entertaining Facilitating Teaching. The concept won a Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system award at the first Diversity Awards in the Outstanding Student Organization Diversity Award category in 2009.

Students and alumni will perform drama, music, poetry and personal stories, including scenes and monologues from popular plays including “The Laramie Project” and “The Children’s Hour,” poetry and first-hand accounts written by GLBT persons about growing up/coming out, and musical pieces including songs from “Into the Woods,” “La Cage Aux Folles” and “Honk!” Performers will hold a community discussion afterwards, which should take little more than an hour.

Lindbloom said the event is significant given the Minnesota gay marriage amendment vote next November.

“The GLBT community is growing,” she said. “They are a vital and important part of our community.”

The event, sponsored by the Riverland Community Gay Straight Alliance, takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6 inside Riverland’s Frank W. Bridges Theatre. The event is free and would be fine for families with older children, according to Lindbloom.