Members of the Bowdoin community in the Bay Area gathered in San Francisco on October 6th for an evening of conversation and celebration of Bowdoin’s LGBTIQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, questioning and allied) alumni and students. The reception was hosted by Norm Robinson ’63, Peter Alduino ’78, Melanie Fife ’82, Matt Roberts ’93, Sasha Ballen ’96, Dee Spagnuolo ’96, Everett Nelor ’14, and Anne Peacock, former Director of the then-called Queer & Transgender Resource Center (2004-07). Kate Stern, Bowdoin’s Director of the Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity, moderated an informal discussion, Bowdoin Then & Now, about queer life on and off campus. Bowdoin senior Julian Tamayo ’16 participated in the panel.

“I walked away from the gathering with a greater appreciation of our LGBT history,” said host Peter Alduino ’78. “I am so proud of Bowdoin’s being in the forefront of inclusion, treating every member of the community with dignity.”

Host Matt Roberts ’93 agreed. “It was a compelling, moving, illuminating evening. It’s heartening to hear from other alumni that they are equally taken by the advances at Bowdoin; advances which these events are so terrific in showcasing.”

This event continues the efforts of Bowdoin’s Alumni Council Diversity Committee to engage and support Bowdoin’s LGBTIQA community. The gathering offered an opportunity to reconnect alumni with the College and one another, as well as learn about the Resource Center and the impact its programs and initiatives available to current students.

The College will host LGBTIQA alumni reception in Boston in March 2016. Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@bowdoin.edu if you would like to receive an invitation or to be added to the mailing list for future LGBTIQA alumni events.