Skidmore emphasizes partnership, community in 2025 Pride celebration
"LGBTQ+ people have always found a way to create space for joy, visibility, and belonging, even in the face of challenge and erasure," Wyckoff Center Director Mariel Martin told a robust crowd of students, friends, and colleagues who gathered on June 17 to attend "Pride in Place: Uplifting LGBTQ+ Voices in Our Region."
The panel featured leaders from four regional LGBTQ+ organizations and was a highlight of this year鈥檚 Pride festivities at Skidmore College.
The event reflected on increasing challenges faced by the queer population and how best to meet needs through essential resources, connections, and visibility. Panelists included President of Lower Adirondack Pride Cam Cardinale, Executive Director of Capital Pride Nathaniel Gray, In Our Own Voices Chief Executive Officer Tandra LaGrone, and Saratoga Pride Cofounder Cindy Swadba.
Panelists shared stories where they worked together and with other local organizations to aide community members in need.
Speakers addressed the historical trend of young queer people to move to big cities (a phenomenon known as the Great Gay Migration) and discussed efforts to create safe and resource-rich spaces in rural and small-town environments.
They stressed that this goal can only be accomplished through the strong partnerships forged between organizations like Lower Adirondack Pride, Capital Pride, In Our Own Voices, Saratoga Pride, and Skidmore College.
Skidmore community had a chance to converse with panelists in a short reception following the event.
鈥淚t's easy to be a silo sitting up here at the end of North Broadway," says Martin, who organized the event. "However, I think it's important to emphasize that we are a part of a larger community and to recognize how the work of these organizations supports what we do, and how our work, in turn, supports theirs.鈥�
We're asking how we can be better partners, now more than ever, in supporting queer folks in our community.Mariel MartinWyckoff Center Director
LaGrone recalled visiting Skidmore for the first time in a 1969 with her mother to see a lesbian aunt attending Skidmore College. She describes the experience as influential to her decision to devote her life to advocacy work for LGBTQ+ people of color, noting that there is no pride without racial justice.
"This event just brought back memories 鈥� this panel, to talk about the work here, was just amazing," LaGrone reflects.
Swadba expressed her appreciation for Skidmore's continued collaboration with Saratoga Pride.
"From having student interns from the Social Work Department work with Saratoga Pride, to boosting events like our Transgender Day of Remembrance, and then helping us realize the rainbow crosswalk downtown 鈥� we know that Skidmore is a friend of Saratoga Pride and somebody that we respect and count on for their support," says Swadba.
"Through this event, we hoped to continue to engage in valuable dialogue and to educate our community about the many incredible LGBTQ+ organizations in the Saratoga region," explains Vice President of Strategic Planning and Institutional Diversity Joshua C. Woodfork. "I'm grateful for Cam, Tandra, Nathanial, and Cindy's participation and hope to strengthen these avenues for further connection.鈥�
Event-goers were invited to grab free swag and pride flags.
The panel was followed by a brief reception, where community members were encouraged to mingle, reflect, and enjoy a selection of cheeses, cookies, and other refreshments.
