Inclusive Reading Club kicks off a new semester with readings on transgender issues
In the fall of 2019, the Inclusive Reading Club (IRC) was born on campus at Salve Regina. With its founding, the University community began a rich monthly tradition of readings and discussions into subjects like slavery, police brutality, Native American heritage, LGBTQA+ issues, immigration and so much more.
The next IRC meeting will be held on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. in a hybrid format with both in-person and online options. Any member of Salve Regina’s community is welcome to attend. In person, the meeting will be held on the second floor of McKillop Library. If anyone is unable to join the IRC in person, they can register for the Zoom link.
“We’re celebrating our 2nd anniversary of the IRC this school semester,” said Rose Albert, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention. “It’s so exciting to have members participating and being genuinely engaged, pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone and having conversations around such sensitive, vulnerable topics. So I’m very thrilled the community embraced the IRC.”
This month, the Inclusive Reading Club is exploring the stories and experiences of LGBTQA + people, specifically the transgender experience on college campuses from the perspective of students, staff and faculty. Dr. Kaitlin Gabriele-Black, assistant professor of psychology, will join the IRC in facilitating its discussion of readings selected from the book “Trans People in Higher Education,” edited by Genny Beemyn.
Dr. Gabriele-Black’s research focuses on the intersections of sexuality, gender and faith, specifically around evangelical Christianity.
“Dr. Gabriele-Black is definitely an expert in this field, so just having her expertise and research background to comment about the transgender community is great to dive into this conversation,” said Albert. “I encourage people to step outside of their comfort zones to learn more so that they can be effective in the way that they are supporting their transgender friends.”
The files for the three reading for this month’s IRC are located on the IRC’s online bulletin board. Participants can also make comments on the online board if they are unable to attend the event or if they are uncomfortable with speaking in a group setting.
A hybrid event, members can either attend the IRC in person or online via Zoom. In person, the meeting will be held on the second floor of McKillop Library on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. If anyone is unable to join the IRC in person, they can register for the Zoom link.
The IRC is managed collaboratively by the Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention and McKillop Library. Please reach out to either Gretchen Sotomayer, special programs and instruction librarian, (gretchen.sotomayor@salve.edu) or Albert (rose.albert@salve.edu) for more information.
Featured photo is from a past IRC in February 2020.
