CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Each year in April, Penn State recognizes Pride Month to show support to members of the LGBTQA+ communities while increasing education and awareness of the issues faced by these groups. Due to the cancellation of in-person activities for the remainder of the spring semester, Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Student Affairs team will be celebrating this year’s Pride Month with students through online workshops, a weekly newsletter and informative posts to the Penn State Lehigh Valley Student Affairs’ Instagram account.
Anna Eichner, academic advisor and co-adviser to the PSU-LV PRIDE Club, will be hosting a Zoom workshop at 12:15 p.m. on April 14 to discuss what it means to be an ally to the LGBTQA+ community. During this session, students will learn ways to advocate and support friends and family members who identify as members of the LGBTQA+ community. For more information or to sign-up for this session, contact Pamela Fleck at paf5197@psu.edu.
In the past, Eichner has facilitated bi-weekly sessions focusing on LGBTQA+ topics and issues. She also maintains a bulletin board near the PSU-LV Student Affairs office with LGBTQA+ themed inspirational quotes, book and movie suggestions and interactive writings.
“Whether it's though email, a club meeting or a quick hello in the hallway, interacting with PRIDE club has been a highlight of my year,” Eichner said. “I'm looking forward to seeing what new ways we can connect as a community in the upcoming semesters.”
Eichner is a member of the Safer People, Safer Places network, which seeks to help create a more inclusive environment for sexual and gender diversity. For a full list of PSU-LV campus contacts who are part of this network or for more information on the University-wide Coalition on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (CSOGI) network, visit the Student Life LGBTQA+ Resources page.
At Penn State’s University Park campus, the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity provides a comprehensive range of education, information, and advocacy services to students, faculty, staff and alumni. The center’s staff members work to help create and maintain an open, safer and inclusive environment honoring gender and sexual diversity. Through educational, social and supportive programming, along with conducting workshops and offering consultation, the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity strives to serve the entire campus community. The Penn State Lehigh Valley campus is connected to the center and has access to many of its resources. To learn more, visit the center’s website.