WYOMISSING, Pa. — In celebration of LGBTQ+ Month and National Coming Out Day, Penn State Berks will host a slate of events throughout the month of October.  

Oct. 1-13 — Student Art Competition 

The Penn State Berks Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) committee will host a student art competition. Students are invited to submit original artwork inspired by an LGBTQ+ cultural or historical figure, along with a short paragraph describing the piece and its inspiration.  

Submissions can be sent to Colleen Tillger, coordinator of counseling services, via email crt5292@psu.edu or dropped off at Perkins Student Center, room 8. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 13, and the winners will be announced during the film screening of "Stonewall" Uprising on Oct. 18. All submissions will be showcased in the Freyberger Art Gallery.  

Oct. 2-6 — Banned Books Week, Thun Library 

The Penn State Berks Thun Library will have banned books written by LGBTQ+ authors on display and available for checkout. From 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, members of the campus community can create their own banned book cover with Adobe Express. Participants should request a free Adobe account prior to the workshop. For more information, contact Melissa Millar, public services coordinator at the Thun Library, at muf107@psu.edu. 

Oct. 9 — Pride Arts & Crafts Session 

6:30 p.m., Ivy Lounge at The Woods 

Penn State Berks Residence Life will host an arts and craft session where students can paint their own pride flags. For more information, contact Kyle Kowal, assistant director of residence life, at kzk196@psu.edu.  

Oct. 11 — Eric Alva: "The End of Don't Ask Don't Tell" 

7 p.m., Perkins Student Center Auditorium 

Retired Marine Staff Sergeant Eric Alva shares his powerful story of coming out as a gay man in the armed forces as well as his ardent advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The first American soldier injured in the Iraq War, Alva was hailed as an American hero. As a former spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, he played an instrumental role in the repeal of the military’s "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gay, lesbian and bisexual service members, working with members of Congress to end the discriminatory practice. This presentation is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Penn State Berks Arts and Lecture series. For more information, contact the Office of Campus Life at 610-396-6076. 

Oct. 11 — National Coming Out Day Photos 

12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Perkins Plaza 

Penn State Berks Residence Life will host a “coming out” photo opportunity for students, in using a prop door. For more information, contact Kyle Kowal, assistant director of residence life, at kzk196@psu.edu.  

Oct. 17-22 — “Out on Campus: A History of LGBTQ+ Activism at Pennsylvania Colleges & Universities” Art Exhibition 
Perkins Student Center 2nd floor lobby 

The traveling art exhibit from the LGBT Center Central Pa History project will be on display in the second-floor lobby of the Perkins Student Center. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Melissa Millar, public services coordinator at the Thun Library, at muf107@psu.edu. 

Oct. 18, “Stonewall Uprising” Film Screening 

7 p.m., Perkins Auditorium 

Penn State Berks DEIB committee will host a screening of the documentary “Stonewall Uprising,” which examines the events of the Stonewall riots that began on June 28, 1969. The Peabody Award-winning film follows interviews with 15 participants and eyewitnesses to the riots. This event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Aubrey Edwards, academic adviser, at are12@psu.edu or Alexa Hodge, coordinator of student support services, at aeh221@psu.edu.