Spotlight on the Lavender Lounge
By Zach Brooks, Contributing Writer
Lavender Lounge poster
The Lavender Lounge–or as its members refer to it, “glub” (gay club)–is a Gettysburg College social club for LGBTQIA+ students that began at the end of the Spring 2022 semester.
The organization is the result of efforts by Aston ’24, the President of the Lavender Lounge.
“Most of the people who ran queer groups in the past had graduated, and there weren’t many people who remembered a time before the groups had fallen apart, so I figured it was time to make a new one,” said Aston.
The meetings are a casual chance for students to get to know the queer community on campus. Students can come weekly or sporadically–whatever fits their schedules.
“We try to do some ice breakers, answer a random weekly poll, socialize during group activities and play games all while chatting and getting to know each other,” Aston said.
The Lavender Lounge is not only for members of the LGBTQIA+ community; all are welcome to come to meetings.
“Whether you identify as queer, are questioning, or are an ally, if you are interested in being a part of the queer community on campus, don’t be afraid to get involved,” Aston said.
The club is also not meant to be an activist group; Aston explained their belief that everyone should have the right to relax and have fun.
“It is not really fair to expect some students to fight more for their rights than others just because they belong to a certain social group,” Aston said.
Outside of club meetings, Lavender Lounge hosted QProm in the Spring 2022 semester, where the theme was Enchanted Forest.
Aston recalled,“I really enjoyed seeing everyone have fun there and taking pictures in their outfits.”
Aston explained that QProm was an important event for many LGBTQIA+ people on campus.
“To be able to have something like a prom since it is such a memorable experience, yet so many of them were not able to be fully out at theirs in high school,” Aston said.
Other events the club is planning to host this semester include a Halloween Spookfest on Friday,
Oct. 21 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., along with an open mic night and a fashion show. The club also hopes to bring speakers and drag performers next semester.
Aston also mentioned that some of the club’s future goals are to gain more members and become an established club that new students will want to join in the future.
Lavender Lounger also partners with other groups on campus, including the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center and QHouse.
Lavender Lounge meetings occur on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Glatfelter 311. Students who want to see updates from the club can follow them on Instagram at @gburg_lavender_lounge or reach out to Aston at astoan01@gettysburg.edu.
