The Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging is excited to partner with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) in recognizing April as Pride Month at Elizabethtown College. While Pride Month is celebrated nationally in the month of June, Etown is centering its Pride Month programming in April before the majority of students leave campus for the summer to best celebrate together as a campus community.
Etown Does Pride is a month-long celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and queer (LBGTQ+) social and self-acceptance, achievements, legal rights, and pride.
April will also feature Etown’s first annual Social Justice Fair on Friday, April 8, offering a series of events in conjunction with the Office of Title IX, Student Wellness and Health Promotion, Center for Community and Civic Engagement, and Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking.
The Fair hopes to open the doors of access and opportunity for everyone, particularly those in greatest need.
Etown Does Pride Kick-off | Friday, April 1 at 3 p.m. | BSC Patio
The Etown community will celebrate the start of Etown Does Pride on the BSC patio by listening to various speakers kick off the month, while also chalking supportive messages to showcase both Etown’s diversity and community allyship.
STI Awareness | Wednesday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | BSC Concourse
Since April is also STD Awareness Month, Etown’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is partnering with Student Wellness to provide resources and increase awareness of STIs. Resources for students will also come with a chance to spin the wheel and win a prize!
Ujima Dialogue Series | Wednesday, April 6 at 7 p.m., Brethren Heritage Room, High Library
Join the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging for bi-weekly informal conversations driven by students. “Ujima” is a principle of Kwanzaa, defined as “collective work and responsibility.” All faculty, staff, and students are invited to participate in a co-facilitated discussion with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) regarding the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and how this impacts the LGBTQ+ community.
Blue jAY 5kAY | Thursday, April 7 at 6 p.m. | Bowers Center
Warm up for the Relay for Life with Kevin Hemingway’s Blue jAY 5kAY. The event will be held on the outdoor track with the Bowers Center indoor track as the backup rain location. Etown Book Store gift cards will be awarded to the top 6 finishers and all participants will receive a prize. Donations can be made the day of the event to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Sign up by Tuesday, April 5!
“Cured” Documentary | Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m. | Brinser Lecture Room, Steinman Center
GSA is partnering with the Psychology Club to show the documentary, “Cured,” which discusses the history of conversion therapy and how LGBTQ+ activists rose to fight back against the designation of homosexuality as a mental illness. After the showing, Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Evan Smith will discuss aspects of the documentary and answer questions.
Social Justice Fair| Friday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | The KAV
The Title IX Office and the Diversity, Equity and Belonging Office are partnering with the Center of Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE), student clubs on campus, and members of the surrounding Elizabethtown area community to curate the inaugural Social Justice Fair. The fair will serve as a resource center for students and employees where they can learn about the work each office, club or organization participates in and find out ways to help.
List of Social Justice Fair participants.
Students can stop by Counseling Services (BSC 216) during the fair to access urgent walk-in services (or schedule an appointment by calling 717-361-1405). During the fair, students will also be able to walk through a Labyrinth. Located in the Tempest Theatre, the Labyrinth represents a purposeful journey to our own center and back again into the world in observance of the Day of Silence – an annual day of action to spread awareness about the effects of the bullying and harassment of LBGTQ+ students.
We Got Your Back: BIPOC Community Conversation | Friday, April 8 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. | Mosaic House
Immediately following the Social Justice Fair, students identifying as Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color are welcome to join Dr. Dawnielle Simmons, Assistant Professor of Psychology Clinical/Counseling, and Jihan Owens-Tyler, Staff Counselor-BIPOC focus, at the Mosaic House for a co-facilitated group discussion.
Relay for Life | Friday, April 8 at 3 p.m. | Thompson Gym
At Relay for Life, you’ll find community members taking turns walking around a track lined with luminaria bags. You’ll have the opportunity to cheer for local survivors (or participate as a survivor) in our first lap of the day. Caregivers of cancer patients (currently or previously diagnosed) will then be invited to join the survivors. Local entertainers will keep you energized. As it gets dark, we will light the luminaria bags surrounding the track in a memorable luminaria ceremony.
Don’t Say Gay | Wednesday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | BSC Concourse
Join us for a tabling event that will serve as a reminder that the erasure of sexual orientation and gender identity is a real threat. Find ways to practice effective allyship with activities geared toward helping students grasp the seriousness of the matter.
Lesser-Known Identities | Thursday, April 14 at 4 p.m. | Hoover 110
Join us in Hoover 110 for a presentation meant to educate the campus community about lesser-known identities from the LGBTQ+ community and to provide the opportunity to answer questions Etown students and employees may have regarding those identities.
Queer History and Pop Culture Trivia | Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. | Bowers Center – Multipurpose Classroom 221
Participate in a trivia event about LGBTQ+ icons in history and Queer pop artists. Have fun while testing your knowledge and win awards!
Ujima Dialogue Series | Wednesday, April 20 at 7 p.m. | Brethren Heritage Room, High Library
Join the Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging for bi-weekly informal conversations driven by students. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to join the discussion regarding Racial Harmony. This will be the last meeting for the semester and final event of the series facilitated by Celeste Workman ’22.
Pride Rock Painting | Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. | The Bird Cage, BSC
Join the campus community in painting supportive messages on rocks and keep those rocks as a reminder to yourself or someone else to show your support!
Etown Does Pride Spotlight: Chibbi | Wednesday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. | Steinman 114, Brinser Lecture Hall
Join us for an evening with M.R. “Chibbi” Orduña, a Mexican-born, Texas-raised poet, actor, editor, publisher, community organizer, and spoken word artist. He has two books of poetry; his latest OTRO/Patria, a journey through the intersections of identity, was released in the summer of 2019. He was also the co-editor of the anthology Contra: Texas Poets Speak Out (2020), a collection of almost 70 poems responding to the political and social climate in America. His work primarily deals with the exploration of identity and culture, his experiences as both Queer and Latino, and fighting for the validity of existence. On stage and page, he is an unforgettable experience.
Queeraoke | Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. | Bowers Center Lower Lounge
Enjoy an evening of singing songs produced by LGBTQ+ artists, as a prelude to the Drag Show happening the next day, to end Etown Does Pride with a blast!
Etown Does Pride Finale: Campus Queens | Friday, April 29 at 10 p.m. | The KAV
The Etown campus community will close out Etown Does Pride month with a drag show performance in the KAV, which is open to all! Staring three-year co-hostesses of Central Pa. Pride, and current co-hostesses of Central Pa.’s Premier Drag Brunch, Regional Title Holders, and Pennsylvania’s First Singing Queens: Lizzie Beaumont & Betty Whitecastle. The show includes special guests and represents Etown’s acceptance of different forms of expressions, as we encourage students to present themselves in ways they are most comfortable.
Visit the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging page for more information.