Iconic Out In Science Panel Returns

RockOUT brought back its annual flagship event, the Out In Science panel, on Thursday, May 23, 2024, for the first time since 2020. The panel was an opportunity for attendees to understand how the LBGTQ+ identities of three highly accomplished scientists have impacted their scientific careers and journeys. Drawing from the experiences of Dr. Emma Benn, Dr. Andre Isaacs, and Dr. Michael Pride, attendees gained insight into how they can balance successful and fulfilling scientific careers while finding happiness, comfort, and confidence in their identities. Attendees also learned how to be better allies to their LGBTQ+ friends and colleagues, and consider how sexual orientation can interface with people’s other identities.

Panelists included the incredible Dr. Emma Benn, Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Center for Scientific Diversity at Mount Sinai, the iconic Dr. Andre Issacs, Associate Professor at the College of the Holy Cross and social media sensation, and the brilliant Dr. Michael Pride, Vice President of Vaccine Research & Development at Pfizer. The panel was moderated by Dr. Devon Collins, Director of the Dana Frontiers Program at the Dana Foundation and one of the founding members of PRISM (now RockOUT).

The event was a huge success. Attendee and RockOUT board member Will Doyle found it “inspirational to see queer HOLs emphasize the importance of visibility at the highest levels in science”. The panel made attendee and RockOUT board member Giacomo Glotzer “realize how few queer mentors I can look up to and the importance of mentoring the next generation of queer scientists”. World-renowned ally and graduate student Ethan Seltzer, who had originally intended to complete important thesis work during the panel discussion, said “[I] did not accomplish as much as I had hoped which means that I was interested and engaged”. The panel was preceded by a lunch and succeeded by a reception and dinner, giving members of Rockefeller’s LGBTQ+ community an opportunity to connect with queer role models in a less formal environment.

All together, this panel provided an opportunity for members of Rockefeller’s LGBTQ+ community to connect with and establish queer role models in science, allowing them feel more comfortable and confident in their personal and professional identities.

- John Bowen

Concern for the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an ongoing tragedy endangering millions, especially minoritized communities. Today, we want to bring attention to fears among LGBTQ+ people in particular. Russia reportedly has “kill lists,” including members of the Ukrainian LGBTQ+ community among many others. This has contributed to grave fear of worsening repression of queer life under Russian occupation.

Russia, along with other nationalist governments such as those in Hungary and Poland, has pushed a type of extremist Christian nationalist governing style which promotes “traditional values” in opposition to LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance. For example, “gay propaganda” is illegal in Russia, effectively outlawing much public discussion of LGBTQ+ issues and status. Last October, President Putin of Russia compared “gender fluidity” to a “crime against humanity”.

The political movements fueling these governments position themselves as defenders of the traditional Christian values, the family, and in opposition to growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, which is seen as a sign of weakness and degeneracy.

We oppose military aggression and call for peace and respect for human rights everywhere.

Links for more info:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ukraines-gay-combat-volunteers-are-ready-to-fight-for-their-lives-against-anti-lgbtq-vladimir-putin?ref=scroll

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-lgbtq-fear-human-rights-abuses-if-russia-invades/

https://katelynburns.medium.com/no-the-war-in-ukraine-wasnt-because-of-pronouns-c3e3e8f938a3

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/2/4/the-war-on-gender-an-unholy-east-west-crusade

https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/12/no-support/russias-gay-propaganda-law-imperils-lgbt-youth

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/23/putin-gender-russia-news-conference/

PRISM welcomes new board members!

PRISM is delighted to welcome new members to the board! Lola Neal, Tomasz Ahrends, Adriane Otopalik, Hubert Mysliwiec, Adriana Mejia, Jess Posada, Andrew Wong, and Joe Levin join the existing board to bring new ideas, expertise, and energy to the LGBTQ+ community at Rockefeller. They represent many different backgrounds and roles at the University, making this the most diverse board we have ever had.

Rockefeller LGBTQ history

Happy Pride month from the PRISM board!

To celebrate we are highlighting the work of an LGBTQ+ scientist from the history of Rockefeller University. Dr. Louise Pearce (1885-1959) was the first woman appointed to a research position at the university. She received degrees from Stanford University and Johns Hopkins Medical school, where she graduated third in her class. In 1913 she was appointed to a research position at Rockefeller University, then known as the Rockefeller Institute. Her research focused on using arsenic containing compounds to treat sleeping sickness. In 1920 she traveled to the Congo to run clinical trials of the compound tryparsamide, which subsequently became the standard of care. For this work she received in 1921 the Order of the Crown of Belgium and in 1953 the Royal Order of the Lion.

Pearce was a member of Heterodoxy, a feminist lunch society that contained many bisexual and lesbian members. She lived with the physician Sara Josephine Baker and Ida A. R. Wylie, an author, who were also members of Heterodoxy. Pierce and Wylie are buried together at the farm in New Jersey on which they lived during retirement.

2020 Out in Science Panel

The 2020 Out in Science panel took place on October 7 via webinar. PRISM featured five role models for aspiring scientists representing academic and industry positions. The panelists talked about their experiences in science, coming out in the workplace, advice to current students, and answered audience questions. Hopefully next year we will once again feature an in-person panel and reception!