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GSA Leadership Summit


On Feb. 25, more than 240 high-school and college students, as well as educators and activists, came together in the Holland Union Building for the fourth annual GSA Leadership Summit—its largest gathering yet.

A joint project of Dickinson’s Office of Diversity Initiatives (ODI) and Common Roads, the youth-programming arm of the LGBT Community Center Coalition, the summit was an opportunity for students and professionals to network and learn how to advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and allied youth.

“The fourth year was definitely our year in terms of number of participants, quality and breadth of the workshops and the enthusiasm of the presenters,” said Paula Lima-Jones, director of ODI. “It was powerful to witness the Social Hall filled with so many engaged students, professionals, advisors and volunteers.

Attendees chose from more than a dozen workshops throughout the day, including Wired for Activism by keynote speaker Peterson Toscano; Bisexuality within the Spectrum co-led by Susannah Bartlow, director of the Women’s Center, and Peter Paquette, assistant dean of students; and Building Trans-Inclusive Communities, led by a panel from Millersville University and TransCentral PA. [Story continues below.] 


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  • Louie Marven, director of education at Common Roads, looks on as Paula Lima-Jones, director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives, greets the record-breaking crowd at the fourth-annual GSA Summit. "It's been great to partner with Paula on this event," said Marven. "The Office of Diversity Initiatives always does its best to make all attendees feel welcome on Dickinson's campus." 
    Paula Lima-Jones
  • Peterson Toscano, a self-described theatrical-performance activist, gives his keynote speech. Since 2003, he has written and performed in numerous plays that explore sexism, racism, the environment, violence and gender.
    Peterson Toscano
  • More than 200 students from high schools and colleges throughout central Pennsylvania gathered for this annual event, the only one of its kind.
    Enthusiastic Reception
  • Liz Zadnik, education and resource coordinator for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, discusses bullying and harassment in her workshop, How Sexual Violence Affects the LGBTQ Community.
    Liz Zadnik
  • During his keynote address, Peterson Toscano unpacks the meaning of the common epithet, "That's so gay."
    Unpacking Meaning
  • American-studies major Anthony Bush '11 stops by the registration table to pick up his GSA Leadership Summit materials. "I learned more about how to build trans-inclusive communities and how to become more aware of the transgender community's specific needs," he said.
    Checking In
  • Sunday's Voices of Pride concert featured Voices of Spirit from the Metropolitan Community Church, the Central Pennsylvania Womyn's Chorus and the Harrisburg Men's Chorus.
    Voices of Pride
  • One of Dickinson's several vocal ensembles to participate in the concert, The Syrens performed "Parachute" and "Kaleidoscope Heart."
    Syrens
  • Michelle Petrucci '14 sings a solo during the D-Tones' rendition of "King of Anything."  The Infernos and Silent Poets also participated in the event.
    Michelle Petrucci '14
Louie Marven, director of education at Common Roads, looks on as Paula Lima-Jones, director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives, greets the record-breaking crowd at the fourth-annual GSA Summit. "It's been great to partner with Paula on this event," said Marven. "The Office of Diversity Initiatives always does its best to make all attendees feel welcome on Dickinson's campus." Prev ImageNext Image

 

“The summit was a great outlet for students gay and straight to learn more about themselves in relation to each other,” said participant Anthony Bush ’11. “It definitely tackles many issues that queer youth deal with on a day-to-day basis.”

The summit also kicked off a weekend of events, including a Friday-evening screening of Toilet Training, a film about bathroom access in public space that examines the intersections of transphobia, sexism, racism, ageism and ableism. Megan Yost, assistant professor of psychology, and Laura Grappo, assistant professor of American studies, led a discussion afterward. 

Sunday saw Voices of Pride, a concert that brought together several area LGBT choirs with Dickinson’s a capella groups the Syrens, D-Tones and Infernos and social-justice performers the Silent Poets in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter auditorium. Sponsored by Pride@Dickinson, a project of ODI, and the Office of Religious Life, the concert included performances both spiritual and secular.

“Being involved in Voices of Pride has reminded me of the many voices I heard growing up—from the pulpit, at school, in my home, in my heart and in my mind,” said Joy Verner, coordinator of Pride@Dickinson and assistant to the vice president for student development, to the crowd on Sunday. “[It’s about] engaging our community, embracing our equality.”

By Michelle Simmons
Photos by Carl Socolow ’77