The Marvin K. Peterson Library currently has a display on LGBT history with an emphasis on transgender rights to honor the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgender Awareness Week. This exhibit was organized by Sean Stevens, library technical assistant.
When asked about his inspiration he explained, “The library typically tries to have diverse topics. I wanted to develop one focused on transgender rights to help people better understand why there is a day set aside for remembering lives lost to anti-transgender crimes.”
The day began as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998.
The display has sections on every floor of the library, each with different focuses. The main floor features current controversies facing the transgender community, including UNH’s Faculty and Staff Guide for Supporting Transgender Students. There is also a case near the stairs focusing more on general issues that arise in the LGBT community.
The second floor included cases displaying pictures and personal stories from transgender people. The focus was on transgender couples starting families of their own.
“The intent was to highlight the progression to normality and make students question the average understanding of gender,” says Stevens.
The third and final floor featured displays relating to the way homosexuality was viewed in the 1960s. There is a case displaying books from the time period, describing homosexuality as a mental illness. There is also a display case by the bathrooms displaying various journals and magazines featuring pieces on the LGBT community.
While Stevens had this display planned long before election night, it is inarguable that the display has taken on a new dynamic given the results. The display serves as a launching pad for open dialog and discussion on campus. Following this election, the display shines light on important issues and brings the campus together in unity.
“As I was organizing the display it became more important to stress the legal implications, given the new president-elect and his administration,” says Stevens. He continued saying, “Following the election so many are upset and afraid and questioning of the future.”
This display allows for a platform to look and think about transgender people and reflect on their situation and how the new future of the country could affect them. Stevens hopes that it will expand the minds of students to think about the future of our nation as it relates to all individuals, not just straight white men.