Researching Historically Marginalized Communities

HokiePRIDE was originally founded in 1985 as Lambda Horizons (sometimes written as Lambda Horizon). In 1994, the group was renamed the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Alliance (LGBA). Then, in 1999, the name was changed again to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Alliance (LGBTA). In 2014 the name changed once more to the current name, HokiePRIDE.

HokiePRIDE was the second officially recognized LGBTQIA+ student group formed at Virginia Tech following the Gay Alliance of Virginia Tech (GAVT) in 1971. It also followed three unofficial groups: the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) in 1970, the Gay Student Union (GSU) in 1975, and the Gay Student Alliance (GSA) in 1976.

The early goals of HokiePRIDE included providing a place on campus for gay and lesbian members of the university community to meet without judgement, helping educate the campus community about homosexuality, and creating a positive image of gay and lesbian people. Over time, the group's mission expanded to include advocacy for everyone under the societally defined umbrella of LGBTQIA+, including bisexual, asexual, pansexual, transgender, and intersex people.

The group implemented multiple programs on campus to advocate on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ population including Gay Awareness Week, AIDS Awareness Week, National Coming Out Day, Freedom to Marry Day, Pride Week, advocacy for hate crimes legislation, and the organization of Safe Line, Safe Watch, the Safe Zone program, and more.

A few documents also relate to the College of William and Mary, where she worked prior to Virginia Tech. The collection consists of information about the LGBTQ community and resources for students, LGBTQ event planning and LGBTQ events at Virginia Tech, including "Gay in Appalachia" and the Lavender Commencement Ceremony, as well as correspondence with other LGBTQ Caucus members and government officials.

Jean Elliott worked for Virgina Tech from 1999-2015. She retired in 2015 as Communications Manager for the Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Prior to working at Virginia Tech, Elliott served as the Sports Information Director at the College of William and Mary and Brown University.

As an employee of Virginia Tech, Elliott was a visible advocate for the LGBTQ community. In 2005, she worked with professors Jeff Mann and Carol Burch-Brown to establish the annual "Gay in Appalachia" event, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ experience in rural communities through visual and performing arts. In 2009, Elliott worked with the LGBT faculty/staff caucus to establish an Ally of the Year Award and the Lavender Commencement Ceremony for LGBTQ+ students at Virginia Tech.

Mark Weber was a student at Virginia Tech from 1983 to 1987, during which he served first as secretary and then as president of the gay student group, Lambda Horizon. Weber graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and went on to complete a Master of Business Administration in Marketing at The George Washington University School of Business. Following his education, Weber served as Director of the Office of Communications for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and later as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs/Human Services with the United States Department of Health and Human Services.