by Joshua R. Simon
The 1960’s — An era of homophobia and bigotry ran rampant as LGBT communities found their very existence criminalized and threatened by New York City law. Police raided not only gay bars, but villages and private homes too. It was an utterly dehumanizing experience, and after decades of systemic oppression, they had seen enough.
The community’s frustration had reached its peak on June 28th, 1969, when police targeted the Stonewall Inn. This popular gay bar and place of refuge saw attendees shepherded onto the streets, and in a most egregious violation of privacy, cross-dressing patrons were forced to verify their sex. Unsurprisingly, an angry crowd began to form outside and not long after, lesbian activist Stormé DeLarverie was assaulted by police.
Perhaps it was the clear injustice of it all, but the reaction instantaneous. Police barricaded themselves inside the Stonewall Inn as it was stormed by a crowd radicalized by years of bigotry, hatred, and discrimination.
“It was a rebellion, it was an uprising, it was a civil rights disobedience — it wasn’t no damn riot.” — Stormé DeLarverie
America is different these days.
Same-sex couples no longer live in fear that their homes or recreational centers will be stormed by police, and in 2015 the nation legalized marriage equality across all fifty states.
But the battle continues. Religious exemption laws passed by state legislatures threaten the newfound freedom won throughout the 2010’s. Trans youth face difficulty through social acceptance; their mental health besieged without caution as access to gender-affirming healthcare is steadily limited.
For many, there’s nothing more terrifying than being outed against their will. Constant vigilance must be upheld, or else they might find themselves homeless, having lost everything…
The bravery it takes to have pride — to take a rebel stance against a world that hardly recognizes your struggle is a never-ending battle.
Thankfully, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus has The Pride Alliance Working for Students (PAWS). Led by Brandon Demchak, the organization celebrates diversity and hopes to provide an inclusive environment for all those who identify as LGBTQIA+.
Working alongside our campus mental health counselor, Amanda Collins, Demchak is excited to host their first in-person event since the spread of COVID-19.
It’s called the Pride Creativity Expo, where students can submit works of art (through writing, paint, song, dance, etc), answering the question “what does pride mean to you?”
Hoping for a high turnout, the PAWS organization is excited to announce that all participants will have their names entered into a drawing, with a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
The event runs until the end of April, with entries displayed on campus in the Williams Building. Entries may be sent to Collins through email, or by dropping off entries at the center for student affairs — also found within the Williams Building.