October is LGBTQ History Month, which provides an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the history of LGBTQ communities. It offers us a chance to make visible histories that have been suppressed due to discrimination and oppression and provides an opportunity to build community and educate on issues that impact LGBTQ communities.
Dickinson itself plays an important role in preserving LGBTQ histories. The LGBT Center of Central PA and the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections have partnered to document the stories and history of LGBT life and activism in Central PA. You can visit the digital archives here: http://archives.dickinson.edu/lgbt
The Office of LGBTQ Services hosts and cosponsors a number of events during October, including, but not limited to:
- You Can Play: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Student Athletes (5th October)
- More Than Words – LGBTQ Inclusive Language (7th October)
- Out on Britton – Celebration of National Coming Out Day (11th October)
- RAISE Training for Students (15th October)
- Spirit Day (17th October)
Keep an eye on the LGBTQ Services Facebook page for details of these events and more.
Additional events are organized by other campus departments and student organizations, including Dickinson’s Fourth Annual Drag Show. Watch for the LGBTQ History Month poster, displayed at the top of the spiral stairs in the HUB during October, which will include a list of everything LGBTQ+ related happening during the month.
If you’d like to learn more LGBTQ History, check out these resources: Making Gay History podcast, K-12 LGBTQ curriculum resources and LGBTQ Heritage stories.
Written by Donna Bickford, Ph.D., Director of the Women’s and Gender Resource Center, and Anne Stewart, Interim Director of the Office of LGBTQ Services
September 30, 2019