Community members marked the beginning of Vassar’s Pride Month on Friday, March 31 with International Transgender Day of Visibility. As President Elizabeth Bradley stated in a College-wide email, “Today, more than ever, our Center recognizes the significance of celebrating and supporting our amazing Vassar trans community members.”
With students on summer vacation during World Pride Month in June, Vassar—as well as other colleges across the United States—celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride in April. House Advisor and Assistant Residential Education Director Molly Murray said in a written statement, “A lot of college campuses miss out on celebrating Pride Month because classes aren’t in session during June so it’s very special to make sure Vassar students get to participate fully during April.” She continued, “It’s our hope and goal that students feel like they can be their authentic selves at Vassar and in the Houses and it was an honor to be a part of such a joyful and meaningful tradition.”
For both allies and members of the queer community, Pride Month is important in its promotion of queer support and joy. As explained in an email correspondence from LGBTQ+ Center Intern Joe Lippman ’26: “Visibility is extremely important for queer people. Since our community is often silenced, Pride gives us the opportunity to come together.” He further wrote, “The first Pride was a protest, and we continue that spirit today by using Pride Month to keep our thriving community connected.”
The LGBTQ+ Center, located on the second floor of the College Center, is the primary organizer and sponsor of the Vassar Pride Month but collaborates with numerous other campus offices, clubs and organizations. In addition to tabling the event this year, the Office of Residential Life invited former Director of the LGBTQ+ Center Danushi Fernando to speak at the House Team March training Workshop Wednesday. The Associate Dean of the College for Student Growth and Engagement Wendy Maragh Taylor emphasized the importance of such joint efforts in a written statement: “The Pride Month activities bring together groups from all across campus.”
Taylor additionally reported that students play an integral role in facilitating both the planning and execution of Pride Month events. LGBTQ+ Center Intern Emma daRosa ’26 emphasized the importance of student involvement, expressing, “Being able to brainstorm ways to bring together the queer community on campus has been one of my favorite experiences while working at the Center.” daRosa continued: “I grew up in a less accepting environment, so coming here and being able to put on events that allow for so many different groups of people to come together and support this community has been amazing.”
For the kickoff, numerous student organizations and athletic teams, as well as representatives from several campus offices, gathered in the College Center atrium to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride with food and giveaways, including stickers and pins, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The event was an overwhelming success. “Tabling for pride was really special. It was such a warm and joyful atmosphere,” Louisa Gear ’25 commented. She elaborated, “It feels like an important space to hold together in this moment when queer folks are under such vicious attack.” Annie Brewer ’25 agreed, “It brought me a lot of joy to be walking through the college center and come across a beautiful event.” She added, “I also got a glitter tattoo which was super fun.” Sebastian Montañez ’25, mentioned: “I went to the big college center event and thought it was really fun. The event seemed well put together, which I really liked, and there was effort put in by all the organizations. The best part was, of course, the free things!”
Then, at 4 p.m., Associate Professor of English Hiram Perez facilitated a conversation about a new exhibit in the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, “Apocalypse Sky: Art, AIDS, and Activism in New York City, 1982–1992,” which will be on display until Aug. 20. An amalgamation of 20 different artists, including Keith Haring in collaboration with William S. Burroughs, Robert Mapplethorpe, Zoe Leonard, Félix González-Torres and Nan Goldin, the exhibit focuses on New York City as the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in the ’80s and ’90s. The Loeb describes the exhibit on its website: “Together these works call on us to think about the role of art across both cultural politics and the politics of remembering. Together they remind us, too, that the war is not over.”
Reflecting on the kickoff, daRosa concluded, “It was a wonderful sight to see so much of the campus coming together in support of our queer community.” Taylor echoed daRosa’s sentiment, writing, “We thank all those who support the community and contribute to pride month events.”
