Rainbow Alliance Panel Draws Diverse Crowd

Since 1998, Transgender Day of Remembrance has been nationally observed on Nov. 20. St. Norbert College's own Rainbow Alliance held a Gender, Body and Society Panel and a Candlelight Vigil on Nov. 21 in Cofrin 15 to observe the day.

            Gretchen Panzer, '12, and Leah Tabbert, '12, are the co-presidents of Rainbow Alliance. According to the group's SNC webpage, Rainbow Alliance is an educational group dedicated to the support and acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQQIA) individuals at St. Norbert College and in the local and larger communities.

            "For the past few years, Rainbow Alliance has held a candlelight vigil for the Transgender Day of Remembrance," said Panzer. "This year, we decided to have a panel discussion before the vigil, since this type of event brings many voices and stories together and allows for a more nuanced discussion of the issues."

            The panel included SNC professors such as Dr. Joel Mann, ssistant professor of philosophy, Dr. Bridget Burke Ravizza, assistant professor of religious studies, Dr. Stephen J. Rupsch, assistant professor of theatre studies, and Dr. John Neary, professor of English.

            Student panelists included Doug Cassel, '12, Men's Initiative program assistant, Larry March, '14, and Breanna Mekuly, '12.

            There were also two transgender female to men, Scott and Logan, present at the panel.

            The discussion was started after viewing the HBO film, Middle Sexes, a film about redefining ‘she' and ‘he'.           

            "I was pleased by the attendance," said Tabbert, "We covered a lot of issues and there were lots of diverse opinions."

            Not only was the panel well attended, but the audience was involved in the discussion.

"The audience involvement was good and I think we opened some eyes to transgender issues," said Tabbert.

            "I'm very happy with how the panel went," said Panzer, "and I'm especially pleased with the turnout. I hope that everyone who attended the panel learned something new about gender identity and the role of gender in our society."

            The diversity and openness of the panel led to diverse and open discussions that included gender issues, body issues, masculinity of American society and religion's view on transgender and personhood.

            After the panel, there was a candlelight vigil which took place in the gazebo behind the Campus Center.