Out on Britton To Kick Off LGBTQ Pride Month

Dickinson will observe National Coming Out Week on Thursday, Oct. 9. Students can expect to participate in a variety of events and share personal experiences.

Dickinson will observe National Coming Out Week on Thursday, Oct. 9. Students can expect to participate in a variety of events and share personal experiences.

Dickinson will be joining the celebration of National Coming Out Week this Thursday, Oct. .9th, with the annual Out on Britton event. According to Interim LGBTQ Director Erica Gordon, “National Coming Out Day was founded on Oct. 11th, 1988, by Robert Eichsberg and Jean O’Leary marking the anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.”

This event will be open to all students, and Gordon said, aims to “educate all in attendance about issues within and surrounding the LGBTQ communities and the movements associated with them.” Outreach Pride Coordinator for LGBTQ Services Martin Alvarez ’15 discussed the setup of the event: “During the celebration, Britton Plaza will be lined with tables representing organizations supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual and ally community (LGBTQQIA).” Alvarez continued to discuss the learning aspects of the event when he stated, “students can come and learn about initiatives, on and off campus, and ways you can support the LGBTQQIA community at Dickinson.”

Out on Britton is a place for members of the Dickinson community to share their own experiences as well. Gordon noted, “The key component of this event is the opportunity for students, faculty, staff and anyone who wishes to share their coming out story: the thought process, fears and disappointments, relationships affected, triumphs and wisdom gained from the experience.” Elaborating on the event’s community focus, Pride Coordinator for Programming and Events Noah Thompson ’17 said, “The goal of Out on Britton is to celebrate identity and reflect on what we can do to make Dickinson a more accepting community.”

Over the years there has been a growth of support on Dickinson’s campus and in the overall community. Alvarez said, “We also see this growth in support through our Ally List that list the names of hundreds of students as well as the growing support from faculty, staff, alumni, organizations and local community members.”

This year’s event will be similar to those in the past; however, alumna Emily Newberry ’66 will be the keynote speaker. “After a long spiritual journey of inner truth seeking, Emily came into acceptance of herself as a transgender woman. She writes and performs poetry about the human condition,” said Gordon. Newberry is also an advocate “on behalf of transgender equality and gives educational talks on the way in which cultural beliefs embedded in individual minds perpetuate injustices and how sensible organizational boundaries become rigid hierarchies.”

Out on Britton will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Britton Plaza, and Newberry’s talk about her book project “Water” will occur from 4 to 5 p.m. Said Gordon, “I would encourage people to attend and to share their stories, if they feel comfortable doing so. I also want to remind people that they can share stories of support of their friends, family, and community!”