Lauren Robitaille wears a lot of hats. The Elizabethtown College student is simultaneously an intern with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging, Bowers Writers House and the High Library.
On Monday Sept. 20 these three organizations collaborated to sponsor a meeting of the Mosaic Unbound dialogue series to kick of Hispanic Heritage Month at the College. As their go-between, Robitaille hosted the event.
She began by admitting, “I am by no means an expert in this area but I want to learn.”
NOIR dialogue club members, staff of the Office of Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging and interested students sat in an alcove of the upper longue of the Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being. The group sat in a loose circle, most in bean bag chairs. Dean of Students & Executive Director of College Diversity, Equity & Belonging Nichole Gonzalez was also in attendance.
Robitaille begins the discussion with a bit of history. She explains that many Latin American countries have their Independence Days from mid-Sept. to mid-Oct. This explains the “blocking” of Hispanic Heritage Month.
To acknowledge the second half of the month spilling over into Oct., Robitaille finds it fitting to tell a story about the Latin American folktale of La Llorona, the mother who wanders the bank of the river, wailing and searching for the children she drowned.
After this, she moved on to the centerpiece of the dialogue—a personal essay “Girl’s Guide to Sexual Purity” by Latina writer Carmen Maria Machado. Machado is more well known for her short story collections, but her essay describes her attempts to reconcile her bisexuality with the beliefs of her community’s religion.
Machado’s attempt eventually failed and she became an atheist.
Gonzalez commented on the writer’s conflict.
“It’s not always possible to reconcile [one’s religion and other identities] and stay true to who you are,” said Gonzalez.
More broadly, Robitaille asked, “Does religion stunt our evolution as human beings?”
Associate Director for Office of Diversity, Equity and Belonging Ellis Bonds said that when he asks religious people to tell him what they think the problem is with homosexuality but “don’t use the Bible,” they can’t do it.
Robitaille said she believes religion is compatible with social justice but for the most part not “religion as it is now.” While she feels organized religion as it stands has too much baggage, she also believes individual experiences of faith can aid the mission for justice.
In a similar vein, Robitaille figured, “There’s a balance between celebrating heritage and letting go of toxic cultural norms.”
Bonds agreed and spoke his own heritage.
“We’re very homophobic in the Black community,” Bonds said.
However, he feels he can be proud of his identity because he wants “to move that culture forward.”
Robitaille attributed sexual prejudices in the Latino community at least partially to outside influence.
“It all goes back to colonialism like everything else,” she said.
Gonzalez also chimed in, “And patriarchalism.”
At this Robitaille nodded earnestly.
In conclusion of the event, Robitaille thanked her guests and named some of the other upcoming events in the Mosaic Unbound series.
On Oct. 18, they will be covering LGBTQ History Month and on Oct. 15 is a discussion on Native American history.
