Assistant professor of Women’s and Gender Studies Nelson Rodriguez discusses the idea of analyzing gender academically. (Tim Lee / Photo Editor)

Students of all races, genders and sexual orientations participated in “Celebrate Diversity Day” on Sept. 1, which featured a series of talks addressing diversity and other issues facing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Sponsored by PRISM, the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL) and the office of Academic Affairs, the event’s speakers included College President R. Barbara Gitenstein, Carol Bresnahan, Provost and Executive Vice President, and several others.

A message of hope and inspiration was the common theme in each speech addressing gay rights, personal experiences and the value of diversity on campus and throughout the country.

In her opening address, Bresnahan outlined key issues facing the gay rights movement, including the military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy  and the debate over same-sex marriage.

However, she celebrated Vermont’s recent marriage equality victory.

“Diversity is at the heart of our national identity, not as a finished accomplishment to which we point but as a value toward which we strive,” Bresnahan said.

“Today it becomes legal for same-sex couples to marry in the state of Vermont … We have much to celebrate and hopefully, come November or December, we will have further cause to celebrate here in New Jersey.”

As a legislative aide to N.J. Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, College alumna Kari Osmond provided attendees with a positive look at the status of gay rights in the political arena.

“There are so many victories that should be recognized on the national level,” Osmond said. “The Evangelical Lutheran Church lifting its ban on gay and lesbian pastors, the momentum for repealing ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ and the Marriage Equality Act are going further than it has ever gone before.”

Same-sex couples like Juda Bennett, director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, and his partner anxiously await the day when domestic partnerships and civil unions will not be the only option available to their family.

“Why is language lacking behind, why is it so complicated for me to even talk about who I am and who my partner is?” Bennett asked. “I want marriage. I want people to say that I’m married.”

Kim Pearson, associate professor in the English Department, shared her perspective on gay issues and offered a comprehensive look at what it means to celebrate diversity.

“When we define human beings in ways that imprison their humanity, we also imprison ourselves,” Pearson said. “Celebrating diversity is more than celebrating what we have in common. It is the continual process of uncovering, recognizing our own limitations and privileges and the ways in which we participate in a social system that imprisons others and ourselves.”

With this definition in mind, Nelson Rodriguez, assistant professor of Women’s and Gender Studies, discussed the value of examining gay issues from an academic perspective.

“I ask you all to join us in drawing upon the amazing academic resources available to think critically about what it means to be straight, queer or gay,” Rodriguez said. “By asking serious questions about heterosexuality, we can best understand how to go about undoing similar structures of hegemony.”

According to PRISM advisor and professor of Women’s and Gender Studies Michelle Stecker, “Celebrate Diversity Day” generated such positive feedback that it could become an annual event.

“We were overwhelmed by the turnout and good wishes,” Stecker said. “This was the kickoff event for our t-shirt campaign, which aims to cultivate a welcoming environment for GLBT students at the College.”

Attendees were given the free “I’m part of a community that celebrates diversity” t-shirt depicting the gay, bisexual, lesbian and heterosexual gender symbols and were asked to wear them as a show of support for gay students and faculty.

“I will wear the t-shirt proudly,” Sarah Walsh, sophomore history and deaf education majors, said. “I came today because I have friends in the GLBT community, I support marriage equality and I want our community to be more open to people of all sexual orientations.”