By Ella Prieto, Staff Writer
A student wears a pin from International Pronouns Day (Photo Will Oehler/The Gettysburgian).
On Oct. 19 the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) hosted International Pronouns Day for the second year. Staff from the GSRC set up a table from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the College Union Building Green to bring awareness about the day and answer students’ questions. There were also buttons, stickers, informational pamphlets, and pronoun charts available for students.
International Pronouns Day first began in 2018 and is meant to empower individuals. The national website for International Pronouns Day explains that it “seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace.”
For many students, the day is significant and important, as the debate around pronoun usage continues to be discussed.
GSRC student worker Em Eveland ’24 stated, “Using people’s proper pronouns is one of the easiest things someone can do to support transgender people. It’s easy, but at the same time very impactful.”
Riley Nolan ’26 expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “International Pronouns Day helps bring awareness to pronouns in general but also pronouns that may not be mainstream, like neopronouns. It also increases inclusion and unity on campus.”
Director of the GSRC Amanda Del Gaudio added that the day allows for the topic of pronouns to have a more extensive reach, explaining, “While students can come to the GSRC staff to learn about pronouns at any time of the year, celebrating International Pronouns Day by tabling outside of CUB is a great opportunity for students to quickly stop by and ask us questions in an easily available, central place on campus.”
To continue to give students resources and safe spaces to feel comfortable, the GSRC hoped to use International Pronouns Day as a follow-up to the Inclusion and Equity Barbeque on Oct. 18. The day is also a part of their work with honoring LGBTQ+ History Month this October. The previous events for this month included the Coming Out Day celebration and The Long Road to LGBTQ+ Equality in Pennsylvania exhibit in Musselman Library.
In addition to special events, the GSRC has various groups that meet on a weekly and biweekly basis–such as nGender and the LGBTQ+ discussion group–and workshops for faculty and students to learn more about LGBTQ+ issues. All of these activities cover issues such as pronouns and their usage in an attempt to make Gettysburg College a more inclusive and welcoming place.
October 21, 2022
Director of the GSRC Amanda Del Gaudio should consider inviting the Hon. Brian Sims Esq., a Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and the outgoing Chair of the LGBTQ caucus in that legislative chamber to address G-burg students on LGBTQ+ issues confronted by all citizens of the Commonwealth.