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Queer History Celebration & Trans Week of Visibility

Queer History Celebration is closely aligned with LGBTQIA+ History Month in October. Trans Week of Visibility on campus is closely aligned with Trans Day of Visibility, Trans Awareness Week (nationally celebrated Nov 14-20th), and Trans Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20th). Due to the academic calendar, we recognize these days and weeks during October or early November.

QUEER HISTORY CELEBRATION & TRANSGENDER WEEK OF VISIBILITY(QHC & TWV):

LGBTQIA+ History Month celebrates and honors queer history, recognizes the legacy of the Gay Rights Movement, and highlights areas where intersectional queer identities continue to strive for liberation. Throughout the fall term and specifically in October, events will promote and foster exploration, conversation, and reflection while contributing to mutual respect, diversity, and inclusion at Dartmouth. Spending time to learn history and dream of our futures is distinct from Pride, which takes place earlier in the year and focuses on creating and taking up space with joy and community.

Transgender Awareness Week, nationally celebrated from November 14th to the 20th, aims to raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people. The final day of Transgender Awareness Week is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of those who have died due to trans antagonism and violence. Trans Day of Visibility is recognized on March 31st. It's an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be visible as trans and nonbinary and how those experiences are portrayed or shared with others. For some, visibility is euphoric. It can also bring new vulnerability to systems of oppression and violence. This can vary across intersectional identities and globally. Due to the academic calendar, Dartmouth celebrates Trans Week of Visibility or Trans Awareness Week during October or early November. 

In short, the objectives of Queer History Celebration & Trans Awareness Week at Dartmouth are to:

  • Build community amongst the LGBTQIA+ community at Dartmouth
  • Recognize and uplift Queer history nationally and internationally, as well as educating about Queer history in the Upper Valley. 
  • Create intentional space centering Trans experiences
     

QHC & TWV AT DARTMOUTH: EDUCATION, COMMUNITY AND ADVOCACY:

​​Over time and in different spaces, members of the Dartmouth community fluctuate between using queer and LGBTQIA+ as umbrella terms to recognize shared experiences around gender identity, sexual orientation, relationship dynamics, and sometimes politics that decenter American cisgender, heterosexual, patriarchal norms. This shows up in how an event might be titled or promoted in different ways over the years.