Via Community News Service, a VTSU-Castleton internship, for Rutland Herald
April 12 was a day of peace, unity and celebration at the Vermont State University Castleton campus as students, faculty and community members gathered to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility.
VTSUnity hosted an event where LGBTQ+ members and advocates came together in celebration of pride for the community. Student success advisor Andrew Richardson and student activists Andy Cole and Nickels Thomas led the group in a march from the pavilion to the Fine Arts Center, where special guests performed a drag show to cap off the event. VTSU President David Bergh and Congresswoman Becca Balint also made appearances at the event.
Former VTSU student and Vermont drag queen Emoji Nightmare (Justin Marsh) joined fellow drag queens Carmen Gettit and Bethadone Clinique to give performances in the Casella Theater after marching with the community and witnessing the raising of the new unity flag. The show included musical dance performances and humorous interactions with the audience.
Cole began the celebration of the raising of the flag by acknowledging those who showed up to support their own.
“Thank you for experiencing the joy in diversity and the trans joy that you experience in being surrounded by these people,” he said. “I’m sure many of you have friends who are trans, you are trans yourself, or you’re close to somebody in this community, and I want to say thank you for being here for them.”
Richardson spoke about the history of Trans Day of Visibility and the flag that represents the community. He said the first flag was created by Monica Helms in 1999 and evolved over the years to include representation of intersex and non-binary individuals.
“The trans flag holds stripes that are blue, representing boys/masculinity; pink, representing girls and femininity; and white, symbolizing non-binary, intersex, or transitioning individuals,” he said. “It was designed to always be correct no matter which way it is flown.”
“The colors were picked intentionally to be free from gender stereotypes of pink and blue, and it represents the non-binary nature of intersex, biological variations, and the fight against nonconsensual/consensual interventions,” he said.
Bergh supported that sentiment by explaining why tolerance and visibility matter, especially in an academic environment.
“A learning environment that feels safe and affirming, whether on a campus, online classroom or somewhere in between, can be life-changing,” he said. “When people know they are seen, respected and valued, they’re better able to fully engage in learning, creativity and leadership, and to imagine their futures and confidence.”
He said visibility is important outside of academia, in everyday life.
“Visibility also matters because for many people, understanding of transgender identities comes not only from personal relationships, but from the stories we encounter through media and cultural narratives,” he said.
Balint apologized for not being able to attend in person but gave a heartfelt video message to the community supporting their work. She recognized our administration’s efforts to dehumanize the LGBTQ+ community.
“I know it’s exhausting,” she said. “But it’s more important than ever to really fight that need and to stand together, to stand tall and proud. And most importantly, to keep being who you are.”
Emoji Nightmare kept things comedic and light with their engagement with the crowd between performances. The exchange always ended in a punchline. They said when they are not performing, they are teaching fellow queens and newcomers how to perform.
“But really, when I’m not doing this, I’m teaching all these other drag queens those moves, like the flips and the cartwheels and the somersaults,” they said.
The show concluded with fan pictures, autographs, vendor products, snacks and activities in the lobby of the Fine Arts Center.