Wilkes University marks International Transgender Awareness Day with flag raising – Wilkes News

32

Wilkes University held a flag-raising ceremony in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility on Friday, March 31.

The event, organized by the student-led alliance on gender and sexuality (GSA), featured remarks from Greg Cant, president of Wilkes University, and Helen H. Davis, associate professor of English and GSA advisor, as well as students Morgan Steiner, Aster Rowland and Taylor Mattei.

GSA engages in ongoing gender and sexuality education, provides support and resources, promotes an equitable campus environment, and organizes fun and engaging events for people of all genders and sexual orientations, taking into account their intersecting identities.

During the flag raising, GSA President Steiner encouraged those in attendance to support trans family, friends, artists and business owners. Mattei warned against buying harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. Rowland, with a humorous twist on her own experience of identity, concluded: It’s a good thing the support is free. Kindness is free. Love is free.

Speaking on behalf of the Wilkes community, President Cant emphasized the importance of inclusive values ​​since the University opened in 1933. Since our founding, everyone’s sense of openness and welcome has been what Wilkes has been, and for the past 90 years. , our understanding of each has expanded. He also expressed an ongoing commitment to diversity. We will stand by the absolute truth that Wilkes will support who you are. However you define yourself, you are welcomed and supported.

Davis thanked GSA officers and others on campus who helped organize the event. She also gave examples of trans leaders in the fight for LGBT rights and recognized trans innovators in science, medicine and the arts.

The ceremony ended with the raising of the flag by GSA officer Claire Wynne. The transgender flag contains five horizontal stripes in the colors blue, pink and white. It was designed by Monica Helms, an American transgender woman, in 1999, and serves as a symbol of acceptance for the community.

International Transgender Day of Visibility is dedicated to celebrating the lives, contributions and achievements of transgender and gender non-conforming people while raising awareness of the work that remains to be done to achieve transgender justice.

Check out local media coverage of the event at PA homepage And www.wnep.com.