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Out on Britton


The campus community celebrated National Coming Out Day in true Dickinsonian style on Oct. 11, when participants and supporters donned rainbow-tie-adorned T-shirts and handed out homemade cake pops covered in rainbow sprinkles during the annual Out on Britton event.

During the event, several people contributed comments and stories to Dickinson's own "Make it Better" video project, which is due out next spring, said co-organizer Peter Shapiro '14. 

Shapiro also shared his coming-out story, along with Gaven Trinidad '12, Amy Woolf  '12 and Joy Verner, assistant to the vice president for student development and Pride@Dickinson coordinator. “Out on Britton was a great success,” Shapiro said. “People really enjoyed the cake pops, and DJ Joy Verner rocked the microphone.” 

That evening, the Office of Campus Life sponsored a performance by award-winning slam poet and activist Andrea Gibson, held in the Holland Union Building's Social Hall. [Story continues below.] 


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  • Christina Mullen '12, David Dean '13 and Mauricio "Reece" Torres '12 model their support for LGBTQ equality. The custom-designed T-shirts are available for sale in the College Bookstore.
    Original Tees
  • Students write messages of support and empowerment during Out on Britton on Oct. 11.
    Signing Out
  • Out on Britton co-organizer Peter Shapiro '14 welcomes participants and shares his coming-out story.
    Peter Shapiro '13
  • Students passing through Britton Plaza on Oct. 11 had their pick of rainbow-themed goodies, from bracelets to cake pops.
    Over the Rainbow
  • Students are redefining the term "queer" and using the formerly derogatory word to describe a more inclusive identity.
    Queer and Here
  • Student representatives from the Women's Center and Wellness Center volunteer at resource tables during Out on Britton.
    Allied Resources
  • Biology major Amy Woolf '12 speaks about her coming-out experience during the Out on Britton event.
    Amy Woolf '12
  • Pride@Dickinson coordinator Joy Verner lets her freak flag fly. "I try to use comedy and music to affirm my LGBTQ family at Dickinson and to capture the attention of community members who might otherwise miss the chance to stand up and be allies," she said.
    Joy Verner
  • "Andrea Gibson is not gentle with her truths," begins her Web site. The winner of the 2008 Women's World Poetry Slam performed to a packed Social Hall on Oct. 11 in honor of National Coming Out Day.
    Andrea Gibson
  • Andrea Gibson, who has been featured on Free Speech TV, the BBC, Air America and NPR, clearly has the audience in the palm of her hand. "She was quite powerful and moving, and it was great to be able to talk to her after the show," said Peter Shapiro '13.
    Wide Appreciation
Christina Mullen '12, David Dean '13 and Mauricio "Reece" Torres '12 model their support for LGBTQ equality. The custom-designed T-shirts are available for sale in the College Bookstore.Prev ImageNext Image

Hosted by the Office of Diversity Initiatives under the banner of Pride@Dickinson, Out on Britton was just one of many OUTober events commemorating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) history and celebrating a diversity of identities. The monthlong series began with the annual Stonewall Vigil on Oct. 3, hosted by LGBTQ student organization Spectrum.

Other events scheduled for October include a Queer-o-tastic Halloween Extravanganza, co-hosted by Spectrum and Alphi Phi Omega, and a karaoke fundraiser jointly sponsored by Scroll & Key and the Event Advisory Board.

Find out more about Pride@Dickinson. 

By Michelle Simmons
Photos by Carl Socolow '77