April is an important month at Elizabethtown College, as it honors the LGBTQ+ community in an event called Etown Does Pride. This event kicked off at 11:30 a.m. on April 1 at the Brossman Student Center patio, with student speakers and chalk to draw encouraging messages on the pavement for all students to see. This month-long event would not be possible without the campus’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club.
Like all clubs, the GSA has a dedicated cabinet who work hard to make their group, as well as campus, an affirming and accepting environment. The cabinet includes president junior biology major Alysse Smith, vice president junior political science major Erina Fortune, treasurer senior sociology major Pamela Pina, and secretary junior biology major Hanna Tran. The cabinet of five individuals oversees a club of 125 members, which is no small feat.
GSA’s purpose on campus is to build a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community through events meant to form community and connections. These events ensure that members of the LGBTQ+ community have access to affirming resources and academics.
There is also a political side to GSA. Despite not being one of the clubs directly associated with politics, such as the Young Democratic Socialist Association (YDSA) club and the College Democrats, GSA aims to advocate and advance LGBTQ+ equity and belonging on campus.
Aside from the scheduled meetings that GSA has with cabinet and the members, they host a multitude of campus events for all to attend. Some events they’ve done include rock painting, bracelet making, movie showings and guest speakers. These events are scattered throughout the year, not just during the April pride event.
With GSA being so ingrained in the campus community, they strive to collaborate with other clubs and the Etown community. They’re partners with the Office of Civil Rights, Opportunity and Access, and have collaborated with Our Bodies, Etown College Democrats, Anime Club, YDSA and others. As for the Etown community, they’ve collaborated with Ephrata and Elizabethtown High School’s GSA clubs as well as the former Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition.
Clubs on campus are great for bonding and the memories made at events, which GSA has had ample amounts of.
“My favorite memory is going to the drag show my freshmen year and finally seeing a drag show for the first time,” Tran said. “It was also really amazing and encouraging to see everyone who showed up to support the LGBTQ+ community.”
When it comes to the future of GSA at Etown, they don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. They plan to work more closely with local organizations and the surrounding queer community. On top of that, they plan to invite GSA members to drag events in the Lancaster area to support local queens.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, seeing such a thriving club based on the community at Etown is inspiring and moving. The dedication that the GSA possesses to fight for equity and belonging for the campus community as well as beyond is extraordinary. It reminds us that it’s okay to be who we are, and that we belong, always. To keep up to date with Etown Does Pride events during April, as well as future updates from GSA, follow @etown.gsa on Instagram or email them at gsa@etown.edu.
