The LGBTQ+ Celebration Weekend is a wrap!  In those two days I was honored to watch our staff and volunteers, led by LGBTQ+ Alumni Association President Cindy Stone, in outstanding engagement and positive momentum.

In case you didn’t know, the IU LGBTQ+ Alumni Association is an active and vibrant organization of IU alumni and friends that serves to improve the quality of life for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and alumni of IU on all campuses all over the state.

Our Celebration Weekend took place February 28-29 and was jam-packed with the Awards Reception, Board meeting, and the silent auction reception with fantastic items to bid on.

The awards ceremony was nothing short of inspirational. After a delicious reception, the program began with Cindy Stone and Steve Sanders.  AJ Young, board member and director of the LGBTQ+ Center at IUPUI, gave remarks illustrating the great partnership we enjoy with that campus center. Bruce Smail, interim director of the LGBTQ+ Culture Center in Bloomington, awarded the Spirit Awards to student Tom Sweeney, Professor Stafford Berry, and to a department: the Center for Sexual Health Promotion. Their acceptance remarks alone made the audience feel warm and inspired – but then, James Wimbush presented the LGBTQ+ Distinguished Alumni Award to Jim Fielding. Jim gave a touching speech peppered with stories of his undergraduate days, difficulties and opportunities since, and gratitude to the family, friends, and University that sustained him.

On Saturday the LGBTQ+ Alumni Board had a terrific meeting and then got to work on implementing the annual silent auction. Thanks goes to a very hardworking alumni board who planned each detail, artists and businesses who donated goods and services, and all our attendees who spent money. Because of this work, the LGBTQ+ Alumni Association set a silent auction record. With revenues still coming in, they surpassed $10,700!

I’m excited for all the people who made it happen and look forward to many other LGBTQ+ Celebration Weekends to come.