UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — June was National Pride Month in the United States and in support the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) participated in the State College Pride Parade and Festival, hosted by Centre LGBT+ on June 7.
“EMS has supported and participated in the State College Pride Parade and Festival for several years,” said Victoria Sanchez, associate dean of educational equity in the College of EMS. “Each year we are excited to report that our presence and participation increases. This year, a large group from the EMS community walked in the parade and EMS also had four cars in the parade, with three being sustainable electric vehicles.”
The EMS festival booth included “Ask a Scientist,” hosted by EMS graduate fellows who are members of the Graduate Engagement Network and WE ARE for Science, a science advocacy coalition formed by Penn State students and faculty, and the popular “Make Your Own Pet Rock" activity.
“We love the excitement and community support around State College Pride,” said Sanchez.
The EMS Museum & Art Gallery also featured a Pride-themed exhibit developed in collaboration with Denali Kincaid, a graduate student in geosciences.
“This museum exhibit celebrates Pride Month using rocks and minerals to explore the impact of LGBTQIA+ scientists on the growth of Earth science disciplines, and as a vehicle to show how pride has evolved throughout history, both in terms of symbology — like Pride flags — and through historical events such as the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a series of events between police and LGBTQ+ protesters, which stretched over six days,” Kincaid said.
Many EMS student groups and units were involved in organizing the events including: WEMS – Women and Gender Diversity in EMS; MEMS – Minorities in EMS; Undergraduate Student Council, Student Council JEDI; Graduate Engagement Program; We Are for Science Graduate Fellows; Diversity Council; Museum & Art Gallery; Sustainability Council; Rainbow Network; and Office of Educational Equity.