Princeton University invites all alumni back to campus for “Every Voice: Honoring and Celebrating Princeton’s LGBTQ+ Alumni” — the first alumni affinity conference since 2019. The three-day event scheduled for Sept. 19-21 will include topical programming on social justice, arts, mental and physical health, intersectionality and the history of LGBTQ+ life at Princeton. Registration is now open at the “Every Voice” website.
“We are excited to welcome back LGBTQ+ alumni and allies for the first affinity conference since before the pandemic,” said Jennifer Caputo, deputy vice president for Alumni Engagement. “It has been 11 years since the initial ‘Every Voice’ conference, and the steering committee has worked for months to make this an uplifting celebration that affirms the vibrancy and diversity of our LGBTQ+ community.”
Planning for the “Every Voice” conference, co-chaired by University Trustee Marisa Demeo ’88 and former University trustees Brian Johnson ’99 and Tim Wu ’84, has been underway for several years (it originally had been planned for 2021 but was postponed due to the pandemic) and was augmented by a series of focus groups that included approximately 400 alumni in the summer and fall of 2023.
“We held a series of 12 in-person and virtual focus groups, the most ever conducted for an affinity group conference, in order to gather as much input as possible into designing the conference,” Wu said. “These focus groups were in turn moderated and hosted by volunteers chosen for their representation of different aspects of our community. All of this input was the core foundation for planning the content of the conference.”
“The conference is intentionally designed to be reflective of the full diversity of Princeton’s LGBTQ+ community,” Johnson added. “We are excited to honor and celebrate the energy, beauty and totality of LGBTQ+ Tigers.”
“The steering committee has been devoted to shaping a conference that will create a welcoming space where members can support each other, build lasting connections and champion inclusion and respect,” Demeo said. “The mission of ‘Every Voice’ is to celebrate, honor and empower Princeton’s LGBTQ+ alumni by fostering a vibrant, diverse and supportive community that stands in solidarity and strengthens our collective legacy.”
Beginning Aug. 6 and continuing throughout the month, alumni are invited to register for pre-conference networking sessions designed to help everyone considering attending to connect with fellow attendees and feel welcome.
The conference will be dynamic and interactive, featuring alumni speakers and many opportunities for roundtable discussions, networking and socializing. Programming will begin in the early afternoon on Thursday, Sept. 19, and will conclude with an after-dinner program on Saturday, Sept. 21. Conference activities will include:
- A conversation with President Christopher L. Eisgruber ’83 and Provost Jen Rexford ’91
- Programs featuring LGBTQ+ alumni in the arts, including an exhibition of works by alumni artists, an alumni book fair, and an alumni and student performance showcase
- A review of the rich history of the Princeton LGBTQ+ community
- A celebration of life service at the University Chapel
- Networking opportunities during receptions, meals and small group sessions
- Engaging sessions on representation, campus life, intersectionality, social movements, bodily autonomy, family planning and more
- An opportunity to honor and celebrate the many voices that make up Princeton’s diverse and vibrant LGBTQ+ community
Following the 2024 “Every Voice” conference, an alumni conference celebrating graduate alumni will be held on campus in 2025 to coincide with the Graduate School’s 125th anniversary. The next planned affinity conference will celebrate Asian alumni in 2026. All affinity conferences are free and open to all alumni.
More information about “Every Voice,” including the conference schedule and hotel room blocks, can be found on the conference website.
