On Oct. 28, ETSU faculty and staff celebrated the launching of the Dr. Patricia Robertson Pride Center. The opening celebration was pre-recorded, edited and released for viewing on the morning of the grand opening.

(Contributed)

Keith Johnson, Vice President of equity and inclusion at ETSU, gave the opening remarks after several community members recited Albert Camus’s poem “In the Midst of Winter.”

“Today is an opportunity for the ETSU campus to celebrate what it means to be part of a community where people come first,” said Johnson.

ETSU Board of Trustees member Virginia Foley spoke about the board’s excitement on the opening of the Pride Center.

“As someone who is an ally for the LGBTQ community, I look forward to the programming that will be offered, and to the opportunities for our campus community to be part of important conversations that will begin here,” said Foley.

Shivam Patel, President of the Student Government Association, spoke of being taught to embrace his differences at ETSU, and Bethany Novotny, founding director of the Pride Center, thanked ETSU President Brian Noland, along with many others, for their support.

“We are never alone,” said Novotny.

Novotny noted the struggle of minority stress, depression, anxiety and higher rates of suicide attempts in members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“For those students, that is why the Pride Center is here,” said Novotny.

Noland also spoke at the opening, thanking everyone involved in the opening and renovation of the Pride Center.

“We launched our first faculty and staff LGBTQ+ association over the past couple of months,” said Noland. “More than 50 faculty and staff have joined the group.”

Patricia Robertson spoke of her entry into ETSU in 1998 and her goals to start a safe zone, have a gay pride march and get sexual orientation and gender identity included in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission policy. Robertson described her work over the years toward inclusivity and safety measures for ETSU’s LGBTQ+ community, including faculty, staff and students.

“I was and I am an ally and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community because I can be, and because it is definitely what I should have been doing with my life, and what I want to continue doing with my life,” said Robertson.

The recording of the grand opening can be viewed here: https://www.etsu.edu/students/mcc/programs/lgbtq/grand-opening.php

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