Celebrating Pride Month 2024
The annual celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month honors the many contributions and historical impact of LGBTQ+ individuals. Celebrated each year in June, Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, which is considered to be a turning point for LGBTQ+ activism in the United States. The Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) recognizes the many ways in which our LGBTQ+ alumni continue to enrich the University and their surrounding communities. Here are just a few examples of outstanding alumni stories and upcoming events.
Learn more about the Northwestern University Pride Alumni Club (NUPAC), which offers a variety of programs and events including the Who NU? podcast.
Paving the Way for LGBTQ+ Students
As a first-year student at Northwestern, Vincent McCoy ’75 summoned the courage to attend a small, private meeting of the Gay Liberation Front, the University’s first group for LGBTQ+ students. By the time he was a senior, McCoy had become a highly visible champion of LGBTQ+ student rights. In this interview, McCoy—who is celebrating 50 years as a staff member with Northwestern’s libraries—reflects on how things have changed for Northwestern’s LGBTQ+ communities and his role in shaping that history.
Serving with Pride
Throughout his distinguished legal career, Judge Dean Hansell ’77 JD has worked tirelessly for justice. As a member of the California Superior Court in Los Angeles County with a focus on family law, Hansell is committed to making a positive difference in people’s lives. He has also spent many years working to defend LGBTQ rights and cofounded the West Coast chapter of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). In this video, Hansell discusses his decision to pursue a career in law and the importance of being openly gay while serving on the bench. [Note: Since this video was produced, the number of LGBTQ judges on the Los Angeles Superior Court has increased to more than 20.]
Take to the Sea on the Inaugural Pillars of Pride Cruise
October 7–15, 2024
Join fellow Northwestern alumni this fall for a cruise to ancient Greece and Turkey that will explore history through a unique LGBTQ+ lens. Travelers will visit the islands of Mykonos and Santorini, learn about their rich cultural history, meet local residents, and experience modern LGBTQ+ life in the region.
Find More InformationRainbow Parenting: Raising Children in an LGBTQ+-Affirming Home
The NAA recently hosted a CATalogue alumni author talk with Lindz Amer ’14, author of Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies. Amer, a performer and creator of the award-winning educational web series Queer Kid Stuff, explored the intersection of early childhood education and gender identity. Their informative talk focused on debunking common misconceptions and offering actionable steps for initiating and sustaining meaningful conversations with children on gender and sexual diversity.
Play the RecordingA Calling in Psychology with Gabriel Cooper
Gabriel Cooper ’10 is a clinical psychotherapist who works with members of the LGBTQ2+ communities. He previously worked in marketing before earning his doctorate at Cambridge University, a path inspired by his research as a Northwestern student. Learn more about Cooper’s research interests and what Pride Month means to him.
Listen to "A Calling in Psychology, with Gabriel Cooper ’10" on Spreaker.LGBTQ Art and Pride with Jonathan David Katz
Jonathan David Katz ’95 PhD is a founding figure in the field of queer art history. As a professor and scholar, he has undertaken formative projects in gay and lesbian studies. While at the City College of San Francisco, he served as the first tenured gay and lesbian studies faculty member in the US; in 1995, he founded the Harvey Milk Institute, which was once the world’s largest queer studies institute. Learn more about his pioneering career and current projects.
Listen to "LGBTQ+ Art and Pride, with Jonathan David Katz ’95 PhD" on Spreaker.