During Colgate’s Blue for Q men’s basketball game, Delta Delta Delta sisters were just one group of students who showed their support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer initiatives on campus. Photo by Ashlee Eve ’14
The Colgate 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 men’s basketball game, a drag performance, and a keynote address by Robyn Ochs.
Ochs, a writer and LGBTQ activist, gave a lecture titled “Bisexuality and Social Justice: Reimaging Identity and Community.” She discussed the complex topic of bisexuality and encouraged the mobilization of people to be allies to one another regardless of their identity.
Writer and activist Robyn Ochs, who was the keynote speaker for QueerFest 2013, dines with students. Photo by Janna Minehart ’13
“Robyn 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,” explained Jamie Bergeron, assistant director of LGBTQ Initiatives and the Center for Leadership and Student Involvement. “She 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.”
The QueerFest celebration even garnered media attention when Colgate’s men’s 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 Colgate athletics pride T-shirts, and support from students as well as other student groups.
“It was definitely a “Go, ’Gate!” moment to see so many students show up as allies to the LGBTQ community,” remarked Joe Spina ’14, a student and member of Lambda who attended the game.