Conference: LGBT Alumni Return for View of Campus Life

LGBT students speaking on a panel at Princeton April 11 said they were content with most aspects of life on campus. The panel was part of a daylong event organized by the Fund for Reunion/Princeton Bisexual, Transgender, Gay, and Lesbian Alumni Association.

“I feel pretty good in Princeton’s campus environment,” said Lily Gellman ’17. “There are alternatives to some of the dominant social systems — if you’re not interested in being part of the eating club culture, you can join one of the co-ops.” Students also praised University Health Services. “I think the staff is mostly really good and responsive to students who come to them and say, ‘I want to talk to someone about gender,’” said Kay Gabriel GS. But, Gabriel added, “One thing that Princeton doesn’t do is administer or deliver hormone therapy out of McCosh Health Center — that’s a gap in service.” John Kolligian, executive director of University Health Services, explained later that the University does not initiate hormone therapy but can take over its administration.

About 25 alumni attended the event, which featured academic discussions and other gatherings.

Participants discussed the findings of a 17-page report on LGBT issues that was commissioned following the 2013 Every Voice conference. The alumni who penned the report recommended creating a way for alumni to identify themselves in University contexts as members of the LGBT community, holding a conference for LGBT alumni every four years, and offering sensitivity training to those in regional and class leadership positions with the Alumni Association. A task force is being assembled by the Alumni Association to address the report’s recommendations.