Polar Bear Pride Across the Country

Reunion Weekend Kickoff

The month's celebrations began during Reunion Weekend, when LGBTQIA+ alumni gathered at Ladd House. Alumni representing five decades of graduating classes shared stories about LGBTQIA+ life at Bowdoin, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Whether they had come out before, during, or after their time at the College, attendees reflected on the importance of gathering together and celebrating authenticity, community, and belonging.

Brunswick Pride Festival

Brunswick Pride drew students, faculty, staff, and local residents to the town mall for performances, speakers, and booths hosted by local organizations, including Bowdoin. As in recent years, downtown crosswalks were painted in pride colors rainbow colors to mark the occasion. While smaller in scale and more intimate than Portland's celebration, Brunswick Pride reflects the strength of local connections and community engagement.

"Volunteering at the Bowdoin table at Brunswick Pride and marching with Bowdoin at Portland Pride were lovely ways to be involved in the events while celebrating communities I care about," said Linnea Minich, research and instruction librarian and head of the faculty and staff group Queers and Allies (Q&A).

Portland Pride Parade

Later in the month, members of the Bowdoin community joined thousands of participants in Portland's annual Pride Parade, marching alongside schools, advocacy organizations, businesses, and other groups from across Maine.

“For me, there is a version of pride that is about having a good time, the music, dancing, people lining the streets of Portland to cheer for those of us marching, and it is one of the most joyful things I get to participate in each year,” said Natalie Turrin, director of the Sexuality, Women, and Gender (SWAG) Center.

“Every year I see new faces marching for the first time, which is a reminder that visibility and being seen matters. I think those of us who march do it, in part, for those who cannot.”

Out and Proudly NESCAC Gatherings

Pride Month concluded with NESCAC Pride: Out and Proudly gatherings held across the country. LGBTQIA+ alumni from all eleven NESCAC institutions came together in Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, Maine, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.

The events provided an opportunity to celebrate Pride while building connections across institutions, setting aside athletic rivalries in favor of a broader community of LGBTQIA+ alumni. Organizers intentionally hosted events in communities of varying sizes, recognizing that Pride is celebrated in many different ways across the country. 

Interested in LGBTQIA+ programming throughout the year? Contact Danny Chin, director of alumni engagement for affinity connections, at d.chin@bowdoin.edu to learn more and get involved.