Lafayette to honor LGBTQIA+ History Month Oct. 1-31 

By Maddie Pedone ’26  

Lafayette College will honor LGBTQIA+ History Month throughout October—an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the diverse history, struggles, and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community.

LGBTQIA+ history is complex from the Stonewall Riots in 1969 to the AIDS Crisis during the 1980s. During the month of October, the events and figures that have contributed to the recognition of the community are honored through LGBTQIA+ History Month. 

“LGBTQIA+ History Month is different then Pride Month—with Pride we are celebrating our community and honoring the events of the Stonewall Riots, which is part of queer history,” says Gabby Hochfeld, assistant director of intercultural development and coordinator for gender and sexuality programs. “For LGBTQIA+ History Month, we reflect on the history as a whole of the queer community.”

Avani Sukhtankar ’26, president of Lafayette OUT, an LGBTQIA+ community on campus that provides a safe space and educational opportunities, believes the month is an important time to recognize individual stories.

“Queer erasure is a huge issue in politics, and in general, there has been a lack of representation and violence against the community,” Sukhtankar says. “Recognizing LGBTQIA+ History Month puts a spotlight on the fact that queer people have been here, they’ve been doing things, they’ve been advocates; even if they’re not actively out, they’ve still existed and are living lives as people. I think LGBTIA+ history is a celebration of that.” 

“I feel like LGBTQIA+ History Month is an acknowledgment against erasure. Just the fact that [the month] exists is a statement and a testament to the reality that queer people have always existed, have always been here, have always been fighting, have always been loving, living. I think it’s also just a statement that we’re going to keep continuing no matter what anyone says.” –Avani Sukhtankar ’26, president of Lafayette OUT | Photo by JaQuan Alston

Organizations on campus, including the Office of Intercultural Development (OID), Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, OUT, Lavender Lane, The Queer Archives Project, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Student Advocacy and Prevention, Lafayette College Arts Society, OUT, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Skillman Library, Office of Sustainability, and Gateway Career Center have developed a series of programs for all students. Events feature a Drag Story Hour (12 p.m. Oct. 31) and a Queer Archives Project Deep Dive (4:30 p.m. Oct. 22). 

“LGBTQIA+ History Month means looking back at queer elders and people who came before us, various people involved in Stonewall, helping out during the AIDS Crisis. Just remembering those who’ve done things to help our community as well as looking toward the future of what our community could be.” –Hazel Marlin ’27, co-president of Lavender Lane | Photo by JaQuan Alston

Hazel Marlin ’27, co-president of Lavender Lane, an educational housing community for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, is enthusiastic about building better support on campus for the LGBTQIA+ community. 

“Community building is really important to me, reaching out to fellow queer students,” Marlin says. “I’m looking forward to the building of the queer community on campus in whatever form that might take over the next month.” 

Other events taking place on campus include an author visit from Komail Aijazuddin who wrote Manboobs (5 p.m. Oct. 9) and a Queer Disability Justice training (4:30 p.m. Oct. 27).

Marlin hopes that through this year’s LGBTQIA+ History Month, people at Lafayette will continue to recognize the individuals who are part of this community.