LGBT Campus Clubs and Organizations
There are a number of ways to explore issues of gender, sexuality and identity at Elizabethtown. Our on-campus clubs and resources offer you an informal way to get involved as a student in lectures, talk-backs, film screenings, field trips and advocacy issues surrounding the LGBT community. Our on-campus clubs Allies and the Queer Student Union are actively involved with student life and exploring issues of interest to our community.
Allies
Allies is a student-run club that provides a safe and affirming social environment for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities to meet once a week to talk, play games, and hear from guest speakers. Allies’ claims to fame are their National Coming Out Day event: Chalk the Walk event, and their annual Life’s a “Drag” Show every spring to raise money for the Ali Forney Center in New York City, which provides services for homeless LGBT youth.
Allies Advisor: Dr. T. Evan Smith (smitht@etown.edu)
Queer Student Union
The Queer Student Union (QSU) is a student-run organization that provides a 24 hour safe zone for LGBT students to access in Thompson 100. The QSU hosts a variety of programming and events in the room including discussion groups, Homecoming meet and greets with LGBT-identifying alumni, advocacy events regarding gender and identity, and lectures from faculty, staff, and guests on LGBT related topics. The space exists as a safe place for LGBT students to meet, hang out, play games, color, and enjoy various LGBT themed books and movies on their own time outside of scheduled programming.
QSU lectures and talk-backs on themes of gender, gender expression, sexuality and health are open to the campus community. The QSU is closely aligned with the student organization Allies.
QSU Advisor: Dr. T. Evan Smith (smitht@etown.edu)
Spectrum
Spectrum is a group for LGBT students. This group provides a confidential and affirming safe space to discuss and explore issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Topics will be at your discretion, but could include: exploring your sexual and gender identity (with attention to intersecting identities); coming out to family and friends; addressing campus culture, and negotiating various social interactions. Group meetings will be every other Thursday at 3:30 pm. (Group members' availability will be taken into account for future meetings.)
Contact Dr. Gerber via email (gerbere@etown.edu), stop by BSC 216, or call Counseling Services at (717) 361-1405 for more information.