As we save the date and plan for Denison Pride’s reunion gathering in June 2018, here’s a review of 2017’s very well-attended event.  Once again, alums, allies, and other members of the Denison community are warmly invited.

Denison Pride hosted a large group of returning alums and allies at its Reunion Weekend gathering on Saturday, June 3, 2017.

Some of the many allies, alums, faculty, members of the Denison administration, and students gathered at the June Reunion event.

More than thirty alumni, faculty, current students, recent grads, straight allies, and friends of the groups gathered for socializing and discussion of campus issues in the Faculty Common Room of the Burton D. Morgan Center. Brian Paul Allen ’17, Jeffrey Masten ’86, and Valerie Mockus ’94 co-hosted the event. Continue reading →

In response to new guidance from the Trump administration that rescinded Obama-era policies regarding the rights of transgender students on college campuses, Denison released their response. The University reaffirmed its commitments to transgender students and their rights on campus.

With the many changes occuring at the federal level, the continued support of the University for the rights of current students is even more important.

The text of the response is below and can be found at this link: Transgender Rights at Denison

“On Wednesday, February 22, 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education issued a joint Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) that rescinded and withdrew earlier guidance on transgender students’ Title IX rights that had been issued in May 2016 during the Obama administration. The earlier guidance sought to clarify, among other things, that Title IX provided protection against discrimination based upon gender identity and protected a student’s right to use the sex-segregated bathroom and/or locker room facility that corresponded with an individual’s gender identity.

While the February 22, 2017 DCL withdraws earlier guidance, it also states that students are not “without protections from discrimination, bullying, or harassment. All schools must ensure that all students, including LGBT students, are able to learn and thrive in a safe environment.”

Denison University remains committed to the rights of transgender people living, learning and working in our community, as captured in the following reaffirmation of our policy:

Denison University will not exclude, separate, deny benefits to, or otherwise treat differently transgender persons in any of its activities. This is to include the right of all people at the university to use the restroom and locker room of the individual’s gender identity. Restricting this right would be considered discrimination based upon sex and violate university policy. The university is committed to gender equity, and broadly considers rights and protections based upon sex to include biological sex, sexual conduct, gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.”

A new issue of our newsletter (Dec. 2016) has just landed. With a round-up of recent campus and alumni events, your alumni updates, and profiles of the Denison Pride steering committee — including new members H. Timothy Ewing ‘89 and Marina Martinez ’15!

Find current and past issues here.

In September, the GLBTAA hosted a social hour during Big Red Weekend. The event was open to current students, alumni, faculty, and staff, and the discussion ranged from current issues on campus to the dramatic changes in campus life for GLBT people. The event, hosted by Dean of Students Bill Fox and his family and moderated by current Outlook President Brian Allen, showcased the continued work of current students to make Denison a welcoming place.

Over the winter, the GLBTAA set up and began managing an account to provide alumni the opportunity to direct donations to Outlook. For those wanting to support our current students, here are the details:

1. Visit support.denison.edu/give to make your contribution online.
2. Designate your gift toward highest priorities on the first page.
3. On the second page under “additional details about my gift” indicate that your support is for the GLBTAA Fund.

Any donations go directly to the fund to support on-campus events and community-related educational opportunities for current students.

For the alumni association, the Steering Committee continues its work to build a website for the organization. It will include up-to-date information, an online newsletter, information about how to get involved, and ways to give to Denison.

The GLBTAA will be hosting an open house during the 2016 Reunion Weekend. It will take place on June 4, 2016 from 3-5 PM in Beth Eden (the admissions office) First Floor. The event will include a social gathering, conversation, and brief updates on Outlook, the Queer Studies program, and the alumni association. Stop by to meet new Denisonians, connect with former classmates, and get an update on the Denison GLBT community.

Life on campus has also changed, with the college introducing new majors to meet the demand of prospective students and better orient the college toward in-demand careers. The Center for Career Exploration is also introducing new ways for Denisonians to explore the workforce and for alumni to assist current students, such as the internship program and Denison Switchboard.

The GLBTAA has numerous opportunities coming up to get involved and stay in contact with your classmates, friends, and current students. We will continue to update you in the coming months. Thank you!
–Patrick