Students at Penn State University will no longer be able to say they are the homecoming queen or king – instead the titles have become gender-neutral so as to be "welcoming to all."
PSU’s 2018 Homecoming Executive Committee and Royalty Committee – instead of honoring one man and one woman through campus popular vote – will now give two students “regardless of their gender, gender identity, and/or gender expression” the title of “Guide State Forward Award” winner, selected by a faculty-staff panel to represent the senior class, according to a press release.
“Recognizing Penn State’s continued dedication toward diversity, equity, and inclusion, these changes challenge us to expand our understanding of sexual and gender diversity and extends a welcome that other universities and institutions have been doing for some time," PSU LGBTQA Student Resource Center Director Brian Patchcoski said
The move received mixed reactions from students.
“I think it’s a great idea, especially since there’s a lot of people who identify no longer as just male or female,” student Rhea Singh told 6 News.
But Melanie Kovacs told FOX 56 it was "tradition to have a king and a queen."
This year’s homecoming executive director, Ally Berden, said the move is about “embracing the whole person and the unique experiences and backgrounds of each Penn Stater.”
Penn State’s Gender Equity Center Programming Coordinator, Jennifer Pencek, said she appreciates the “more openly inclusive” process that “allows a variety of Penn State students to participate and be honored…”
After getting the list down to 10 candidates, Penn State officials said the two chosen winners “once known as ‘King and Queen’” could be the traditional man and woman, or two men, two women, two transgender students or any combination.
#UPDATE Renee Clauson-Rivera, 2018 Royalty Committee Director... tells us what these new Committee changes mean for students. I’ll have more from her and other students tonight at 5 and 6 p.m. @WJACTV #PSU pic.twitter.com/68GVF2jt2M
— Alexis Wainwright (@AWainwrightTV) April 10, 2018
“We can’t say ‘We Are’ and exclude part of our community. The decision of the Homecoming Committee to insure Homecoming is open and welcoming to all is commendable, a true 'We Are' event,” said Paul Clifford, CEO of the Penn State Alumni Association.
Penn State drops homecoming 'king and queen' titles, changes to gender-neutral term
Discussion in 'Other News' started by Chinatown, Apr 17, 2018.
Page 1 of 3
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
What if it's a woman and a gay guy? It could still be Queen and Queen.
AModelCat, Chinatown, Broke Down 69 and 1 other person Thank this. -
-
-
I think I'm going to marry me a cantaloupe and the first person to say anything about it is going to get sued stupid.
If you can't beat them, turn their rules against them.
But I think @Opus is probably on the right track.Maj. Jackhole Thanks this. -
Ok first of all who cares about Homecoming in college. Make it mandatory that all college students work 30 hours a week and go to school full time. Anything in regards to homecoming is no longer important. Jobs should be manual labor too, so they know what tired feels Like.
Last edited: Apr 18, 2018
misterG, tommymonza and 91B20H8 Thank this. -
What do you get when you cross male and female? A trans!
I've got a little person growing up. I wish it would make up it's mind what it wants to be it's embarrassing deciding which restroom to use. -
#gender neutral restrooms for all
Putting an end to discriminatory offensively biased restrooms that force us to decide whether we want to stand or squat91B20H8 Thanks this. -
although, i have some doubts on the beauty part.... -
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 1 of 3