Galloway N.J. – On October 1, the Stockton community came together for the annual LGBTQ+ History Month Flag Raising in front of the Arts and Sciences building to highlight past and current contributions to the fight for equal rights.

The event was organized by the Pride Alliance, the Queer and Trans Person of Color Society (QTPOCs) the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Center, and the LGBTQ+ History Month Planning Committee. Stockton University recognizes October as LGBTQ+ History Month to pay tribute to the history of queer activists who paved the way for the rights of queer people.

The event was initiated by Pride Alliance president Jecce Carmen, who greeted the students with an introduction to why Stockton recognizes LGBTQ+ History Month.

“We’re here to listen and lift up the diverse voices to make our community stronger,” Carmen said.

Daniela Contreras, president of QTPOCs, spoke about the importance of creating safe spaces for students to live freely in their identity. Contreras emphasized that the queer community demands more than visibility, but also justice for those who face discrimination for embracing their queer identity.

Marlowe Janton—treasurer of Pride Alliance— brought attention to those who came before us, and to not just focus on who they were, but also on what they sacrificed in order to make progress on queer rights. Janton highlighted Laurel Hester, a Stockton graduate (‘78) who co-founded the Gay People Union, which was the predecessor of Pride Alliance.

“We must recognize that division is a force that keeps us weakened from the fight for equal rights,” Janton said on the importance of unity in the Stockton community.

Lucien Angstman—the membership chair of Pride Alliance—focused on community and how queer people in the past were able to build community from nothing. Angstman defined community as finding a place or people where you can exist exactly as you are. Angstman ended his speech by affirming that everyone will continue to work to build a community at Stockton where queer people can live and blossom.

The event concluded with a moment of silence as the pride flag was raised, to remember those who fought for queer rights. Carmen invited the audience to attend the reception being held in the WGSC, and to celebrate the progress that queer people have made.

For the duration of LGBTQ+ History Month, Special Collections in the Richard E. Bjork library will have a collection of artifacts and photos documenting the progress previous queer students have made to be accepted into the Stockton community, which can be seen on the 200 level of the library.