Queer on Campus: A History
Pride is the perfect opportunity to share an exciting new project that CCBC students are about to embark upon: an oral history project to capture the experiences of faculty, staff, and alumni who have been a part of LGBTQ+ life at CCBC. Through this oral history project, we hope to uncover how learning experiences differed among those who identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community throughout our history. It will also highlight how educational spaces such as CCBC were often prominent sites for LGBTQ+activism, rallies, and protests for policy change.
CCBC has a rich history of LGBTQ+ life that dates back to the founding of the Gay Student Union at Essex Community College in the 1970s. Yet many students who identified themselves as members of the LGBTQ+ community led secret lives, often hiding their true selves out of fear of persecution, discrimination, or even violence. To discuss the queer history of college campuses and the LGBTQ+ history of Maryland, we’ve invited Susan Ferentinos, Ph.D., public historian and author of Queer on Campus: A History to speak.
Dr. Ferentinos will provide context for understanding the past experiences of LGBTQ+ folks on college campuses, and how they shaped the way for newer generations to live open and authentic lives. While CCBC was one of many college campuses that sought to embrace inclusivity, we recognize not all students, faculty, and alumni felt they had the privilege to live openly and honestly.
As a historian, Dr. Ferentinos’ work emphasizes how important it is to tell stories of people who have been marginalized, discredited, or even shunned, which aligns with the goals of uncovering CCBC’s LGBTQ+ history from individuals who might have been reluctant to share in the past. As Dr. Ferentinos shares, it is important to tell a “full and relevant story of those who have gone before, in order to provide perspective on the present.”
During the June 8 lecture, which is available as both an in-person event and a livestream on Microsoft Teams, she will share what she’s learned about the role of college campuses and their role in LGBTQ+ history and activism. As she puts it, “An understanding of the past is essential for building a rich and responsible future.”
We’re excited to welcome Dr. Ferentinos to CCBC as we prepare to begin the oral history project capturing the experiences of faculty, staff, and alumni who have been a part of CCBC’s LGBTQ+ community. We know it will be a great way for our students to put their skills into practice and uncover the stories of the unsung heroes of CCBC’s LGBTQ+ community. We can’t wait to see what they present and we’re hoping that this sets a precedent for unsilencing the voices that shaped our society today.
Thank you to the Committee for LGBT Advocacy, Support and Inclusion (CLASI) and the Mellon Foundation Humanities for All grant — all of whom made this event possible.