Written by: WSCL Marketing Team
Pride, Visibility, and the Legacy of Stonewall Inn
On the day of her interview, Kirsten Pescetti (Class of 2021), Assistant Professor of Lawyering Skills at Western State College of Law, walked in grinning as she pointed to her shirt and asked, “Did I understand the assignment?” Across her shirt were the words “Stonewall Inn,” a nod to one of the most significant sites in LGBTQ+ history.
The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, became the epicenter of the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, which sparked days of protest and marked a turning point in LGBTQ+ rights. For Professor Pescetti, Pride Month is about continuing the work begun at Stonewall, honoring the activism and courage that still shape the LGBTQ+ community today.
“I’m very privileged,” Professor Pescetti reflected. “My wife and I both have very supportive families. I walk around just being me, and I don’t think of people as their sexualities or gender identities. People are just people, and I’m just Kirsten. I recognize that’s an awesome privilege. Not everyone in the LGBTQ+ community has that kind of support or can move through the world with that sense of ease.”
That spirit of everyday authenticity, of simply being herself in and out of the classroom, permeates Professor Pescetti’s teaching, advocacy, and presence at Western State. “There’s a sense of solidarity and responsibility that comes with being part of the LGBTQ+ community,” she states. “We need to support each other and do what we can to lift each other up.”
From Student to Professor: Building a Life at Western State
Professor Pescetti’s path to the front of the classroom at Western State wasn’t a straight line. “I graduated from undergrad in 2007 and didn’t start law school until 2018,” she shares. In between, she built a career working at a law firm, where she encountered many Western State alumni. “Western State was always on my radar,” she says. The accredited law school’s reputation as one of the most affordable schools in California, along with its offering of merit-based scholarships, made the decision even easier for her. “I received a full-tuition scholarship. Law school is expensive, and Western State’s scholarship really helped me pursue this path.”
While attending Western State, Professor Pescetti met her wife, Stephanie, in Professor Charles Shepard’s Property II class. It was good timing, because one semester later, the Covid-19 pandemic hit and classes were exclusively online. “Stephanie and I called it ‘Zoom School of Law’ and classes remained online for the rest of our law school career. We did a drive-in graduation, took the bar together, and now we have a kid together,” Professor Pescetti reflects. For her, Western State gave her more than a JD—it’s where she started her beautiful family.
Success by Design: Discipline, Community, and Neurodivergence
Professor Pescetti credits her success in law school, including graduating as valedictorian, to discipline, support, and a deep understanding of how she works best. She’s openly neurodivergent, explaining, “I have ADHD, so I hate schedules, but I need them to function.” Developing a strict routine became essential for her. “I got up every day at the same time, started my law school stuff at 9 AM, and ended at exactly 6 PM every day, no matter what. I did that seven days a week,” she says. “I kept a strict schedule so I could compartmentalize and have balance.”
Now, she passes this advice on to her students: “The better you do in law school, the easier studying for the bar will be. Don’t get me wrong, studying for the bar will still be hard, but it won’t feel like you’re learning all the material for the first time during bar prep.” But she also acknowledges the support she received from her family, her wife, and the Western State community as critical to her achievements during law school and beyond.
That perspective comes in part from having faced academic challenges earlier in her journey. “I had a chip on my shoulder,” she admits. “In undergrad, I was in the bottom 5% of my class. At that time, I had no idea I was neurodivergent. So, law school was my chance to prove to myself what I was really capable of.”
Teaching, Mentoring, and Paying It Forward
It wasn’t long into her law school journey that Professor Pescetti realized her true calling wasn’t the courtroom, but the classroom. “I remember telling my family that I want to teach. That’s what I want to do. Working with students, seeing that light bulb go off, that’s what it’s all about for me.”
As a professor, she draws on her own experiences to build connections with her students. “I have a deeper connection with some students because I’m an alumna of Western State. I’ve literally sat in the same classes with some of the same professors, so I’m really able to share my experience as a student here with them.”
Professor Pescetti is also a mentor in Western State’s Academic Success Program, working closely with students who may be struggling. “I work with a lot of probation and at-risk students. What makes me proudest is when a student puts in the work and shares their victories with me—getting an email that says, ‘I got a 3.8 in Con Law!’ Watching students go from struggling to thriving is incredibly rewarding.”
Western State: Where Authenticity is the Norm
For Professor Kirsten Pescetti, advocacy at Western State is about the LGBTQ+ community being visible, approachable, and, above all, authentic. “I just try to always be my authentic self,” she says. “In class, I share anecdotes from my own life. Everyone knows I have a wife and a kid. I put up pictures of my family in my office. It’s the small things that make people feel comfortable. I like having an open door for anyone who needs to talk or needs support.”
She recognizes that this sense of ease is a privilege not everyone enjoys. “I have students who aren’t that fortunate—who’ve been sent off to conversion therapy or who are struggling with familial acceptance. I know I’ve been really fortunate, and that’s why my door is always open for anyone who needs support.”
What sets Western State apart, she says, is how completely normal it feels to openly identify as LGBTQ+. “I never felt any different at Western State because of my sexual orientation. My wife and I could walk around campus and just be another couple. We were never ‘the lesbian couple.’ We were always just Kirsten and Stephanie.”
More than Numbers: Real Diversity, Real Support
Professor Kirsten Pescetti is quick to point out that the supportive culture at Western State for the LGBTQ+ community and all underrepresented groups is rooted in real diversity, not just numbers. “I’m really proud to be part of a school that’s so diverse. Western State wouldn’t be who it is today without this community. Growing up in Southern California, in the Inland Empire, felt like being in a melting pot. When I visit places where everyone looks the same, it feels weird. Here, it feels like home.”
Representation, she says, makes a real difference. “It meant a lot to me, as a prospective student, to see LGBTQ+ professors and student organizations like OUTLaw. Some schools don’t have that, and it can be isolating. At Western State, you’re not alone.”
Mental health resources are also crucial: “Western State offers so much that other schools don’t, like therapy access for students. That’s huge. When you have to hide who you are, it takes a toll, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Until someone can be one with themselves, both outside and inside, they won’t be able to live up to their true potential.”
Advice for LGBTQ+ Law Students
For LGBTQ+ students considering law school, Professor Pescetti urges them to look beyond rankings and prestige. “Go visit campuses. See what kind of representation they have. Are there LGBTQ+ professors? Student organizations? Community? Classes that talk about sexual orientation and gender identity in the law, like the ones at Western State?”
Above all, she emphasizes authenticity. “You have to be your authentic self to succeed in law school. When you’re at war with yourself, the academic rigors are so much harder.” She also stresses, “Take advantage of every resource your school offers.” Look for schools that offer support systems, like therapy, career development, and active student clubs, she advises. These resources can help you thrive and should play a big role in your decision.
The Western State Difference
When asked what makes her Western State proud, Professor Kirsten Pescetti points to the diversity, the community, and the support fostered at the school for people from the LGBTQ+ community and all diverse backgrounds. “Diversity and community are core principles of Western State. It’s just who we are,” she says.
She points out that training future lawyers in a diverse environment isn’t just good for students, it’s essential for the profession. “You need to be able to represent all your clients; you never know who you’ll need to represent. Being exposed to different people and perspectives in law school is really important for your legal training, and that’s exactly what Western State offers.”
Adventures Beyond the Law
For Professor Pescetti, sports and travel are how she spends time with her family and makes memories beyond the classroom. Outside of teaching, Professor Pescetti’s life is busy and full. “I have a two-year-old. She’s perfect, she’s awesome, but she’s also a handful,” she says with a smile. Between teaching, parenting, and grading, she and her wife still make time for travel and sports. “We travel with our daughter everywhere. She’s already been on a plane ten times.” Since the birth of their daughter, their adventures have taken them to places like Mexico City, Ensenada, Oregon, Seattle, Colorado, The Carolinas, and more. “There’s also so much natural beauty here in California, we could never leave the state and still be exposed to a wide array of natural wonders,” Professor Pescetti adds.
When asked about hobbies, Professor Pescetti doesn’t hesitate. “Sports! I love soccer, I played it for a long time.” She continues, “We also watch American football, baseball, and hockey. We were watching the NHL playoffs last night. We also watch golf almost every weekend.”
Embracing Authenticity Every Day
For Professor Kirsten Pescetti, Pride isn’t just a month, it’s a way of life. “I’m proud to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community. I’m proud to be part of a school where I can be myself, where my students can be themselves. That’s what makes Western State special, it provides us with an environment where we can just be ourselves.”
At Western State, being part of the community means being seen for who you truly are. For Professor Pescetti and so many others, that’s what makes this place feel like home.
