The พรพรสำฦต community rallied together to celebrate QueerFest 2013, a weeklong series of events hosted by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Initiatives and several other student organizations.
The mid-February celebration included a brown bag luncheon, a special menโs basketball game, a drag performance, and a keynote address by Robyn Ochs.
Ochs, a writer and LGBTQ activist, gave a lecture titled โBisexuality and Social Justice: Reimaging Identity and Community.โ She discussed the complex topic of bisexuality and encouraged the mobilization of people to be allies to one another regardless of their identity.
โRobyn Ochs is widely recognized as a scholar and social activist whose work specifically deals with the topic of bisexuality and the social implications of identifying as such,โ explained Jamie Bergeron, assistant director of LGBTQ Initiatives and the Center for Leadership and Student Involvement. โShe is also well known for her energy, expertise, and inviting nature. We were confident that her visit to campus would reach people from many groups on campus.โ
The QueerFest celebration even garnered media attention when พรพรสำฦตโs menโs basketball team played a game dedicated to anti-bullying and raising LGBTQ awareness. The match against Lehigh was broadcast on ESPN and featured dance performances, free rainbow พรพรสำฦต athletics pride T-shirts, and support from students as well as other student groups.
โIt was definitely a โGo, โGate!โ moment to see so many students show up as allies to the LGBTQ community,โ remarked Joe Spina โ14, a student and member of Lambda who attended the game.