New committee encourages LGBT activism beyond campus

With nine undergraduate groups run by the Lambda Alliance and over 20 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups in total, there is a sizeable LGBT community at Penn. But some argue that it has not taken adequate interest in political movements off campus.

Last night, the Lambda Alliance approved the formation of the Community Engagement Committee, which will work to increase activism in the University’s LGBT community.

College junior and Lambda Alliance Vice Chair of Political Affairs Jason Goodman, who pushed for the committee’s creation, noted that previously, Penn has been the epicenter of many political movements — including those for both LGBT issues and women’s rights. In the past, he said, there were many politically active LGBT organizations at Penn that have mostly disappeared.

Goodman said none of the prominent groups on campus are sufficiently active in political issues or engaged in the Philadelphia LGBT community.

He said he hopes the new committee will be able to establish a formal relationship between Penn students and the Philadelphia LGBT community, adding that the community could use the brainpower of Penn students now more than ever.

“Philadelphia is the most gay-friendly city in the United States,” Goodman said. “It is a diverse and energetic community which Penn has not taken advantage of.”

College senior, former Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer and president of Penn Activists Coming Together Jimmy Tobias said the LGBT community at Penn is “more or less self-serving.” He explained that it is mostly interested in the campus climate toward mainstream LGBT issues.

College sophomore Thadeus Dowad is the outreach co-chairman of the largest and oldest LGBT group on campus, the Queer Student Alliance. He agreed that there is not enough LGBT activism at Penn, but the lack is not without reason.

Dowad said because LGBT students “have it so great at Penn,” it is easy to forget that the community faces many problems elsewhere.

“More needs to be done,” Dowad said, “but we’re all very busy.” He said the new committee is a great idea to increase participation, but will likely take some time to come to fruition and be efficient.

He explained that the QSA has been mainly involved in engagement and cohesion within Penn and other university communities.

Goodman, however, hopes that the newly created committee will get students invigorated about and involved in LGBT activism beyond campus limits.

He said now is “the time when the world requires us to step up, get involved, get our hands dirty, do anything.”

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