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Pride@Dickinson Fall Events


Students, faculty and staff are out in force celebrating Pride@Dickinson during the month of October. In honor of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11 and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) History Month, a plethora of student organizations as well as the Office of Diversity Initiatives (ODI) and the Women's Center are sponsoring events that range from the solemn to the festive—and everywhere in between.

"Much of the thought behind the programming and outreach is from the spring 2009 LGBTQ Climate Assessment," said Paula Lima-Jones, director of ODI, who worked closely with Assistant Professor of Psychology Megan Yost and Assistant Professor of Women's & Gender Studies Stephanie Gilmore on the study. "Pride@Dickinson is an initiative that seeks to foster community among LGBTQ Dickinsonians and their straight allies."

Spectrum, the college's queer-straight student alliance, kicked off the month on Oct. 1 with free hugs on Britton Plaza. The following Monday, Oct. 4, Spectrum held a Stonewall Vigil to remember the 1969 riot at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, which is often considered the spark that ignited the LGBTQ civil-rights movement. Students also organized a kiss-in on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, throughout the campus—from the cushies in the HUB to the Waidner-Spahr Library lobby.

According to Gaven Trinidad '12, one of Spectrum's executive board members, the organization also is celebrating its 10th anniversary at Dickinson. "One does not have to identify as LGBTQ to be a member," he said. "Everyone is welcome to our events and meetings."

On Oct. 12, ODI sponsored Out on Britton (Plaza), a lunchtime event that invited students, faculty and staff to share their coming-out stories, view resource materials from area organizations such as PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Gays and Lesbians) and simply be visible. (Story continues below.)


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  • Students, faculty and staff gathered on Oct. 12 on Britton Plaza to show their pride and celebrate National Coming Out Day.
    Pride@Dickinson
  • Pride@Dickinson Coordinator Joy Verner (far right) brought along her collection of dance favorites from her weekly WDCV campus-radio show, "Generation Jones." In addition to Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out," participants vogued to the music of Madonna and other gay icons.
    Coming Out Jams
  • Environmental-studies major Katelyn Repash '11 was one of several students who shared their stories with the assembled crowd.
    Katelyn Repash '11
  • Out on Britton took place during lunchtime, and many participants shared their stories over a meal.
    Out for Lunch
  • Director of Diversity Initiatives Paula Lima-Jones (far left) facilitated the Out on Britton event with Joy Verner, who is serving as the overall coordinator of the Pride@Dickinson initiative.
    Paula Lima-Jones
  • Tables were available for area organizations such as PFLAG, St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Mechanicsburg and the LGBT Community Center of Central Pennsylvania to provide coming-out resources for participants.
    Local Resources
  • Students and staff stop on their way to lunch to listen as participants tell their coming-out stories. "Through institutional, organizational and impromptu events—a speakout, a kiss-in, films, discussions in various classes and other places on campus—we can all work to create a community that values difference and acceptance," said Stephanie Gilmore, assistant professor of women's & gender studies.
    Out and About
  • Joy Verner, coordinator of Pride@Dickinson, reads her statement on coming out in a heterosexist society.
    Joy Verner
  • Women's & gender studies major Maria Orozco '12 (behind camera) filmed the Out on Britton event for Stephanie Gilmore's class, Gay & Lesbian Communities.
    Capturing OUTober
  • American-studies major Anthony Bush '11 reads his statement. Bush has spoken extensively at previous LGBTQ events at Dickinson, including the 2009 GSA Leadership Summit.
    Anthony Bush '11
  • Students begin decorating the door that symbolizes the closet many LGBTQ individuals remain in due to fear of discrimination, bullying or physical assault.
    Rainbow Closet
  • Beside the closet door is a poster featuring Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office. Milk was killed by a Dan White, a fellow San Francisco city supervisor, in 1978.
    Stand Up and Fight
  • Among the many posters and banners unfurled during Out on Britton is this one from ODI.
    Embracing Equality
  • Joy Verner (left) and Paula Lima-Jones step proudly through the door and encourage others to do the same.
    Out and Proud
Students, faculty and staff gathered on Oct. 12 on Britton Plaza to show their pride and celebrate National Coming Out Day.Prev ImageNext Image

"I'm incredibly grateful to see the LGBTQ community coming out—pun intended—in full force," said Gilmore. "Visibility is so important, and it is vital for marginalized people to take up space at Dickinson."

On Oct. 13, the Office of Campus Life sponsored a screening of the film 8: The Mormon Proposition, followed by a panel discussion. On Oct. 14, the Multi-Organizational Board hosted When the Gays Move into Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, a seriocomic look at homophobia by performers (and partners) Joe Bertolino and Bil Liepold.

"There are many reasons why we should care about these issues. Queer or straight, we have an obligation as human beings to be engaged in each other's lives," said Trinidad, citing the continued high rates of suicide and homelessness among LGBTQ young people and discriminatory laws and practices still in place.

More events are on tap for the remainder of October and into November. The Women's Center is hosting Consciousness to Action: Queer Theory with Professor Laura Grappo on Oct. 26 in Landis House. ODI is sponsoring a brown-bag lunch forum, LGBTQ & Politics: Gay Marriage & Beyond, in the HUB on Oct. 28, which is being coordinated by diversity assistants Alex North '13 and Devin Beaugureau '13.

The Feminist Collective and Spectrum plan to upend gender at their Gender Trouble Party on Nov. 6 in The Depot. Spectrum will return to The Depot with a Moulin Rouge Dance Party on Nov. 12.

Learn more about Pride@Dickinson events.  

Text by Michelle Simmons. 

Photos by A. Pierce Bounds '71.