Speaker will discuss LGBT topics at WSCC.

VICTORY TOWNSHIP — West Shore Community College has invited an expert to campus to speak on one of the themes of the recent play, “Breaking the Code.” The play tells the real-life story of Alan Turing, a famous mathematician who in 1952 was arrested and chemically castrated because of his homosexuality.

Students had questions: how have lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans been treated in the past?  Have they been charged with criminal offenses the way Turing was?  What progress has been made to stop discrimination against LGBT people?

To answer some of these questions, and perhaps raise new ones, West Shore will welcome Dr. Colin R. Johnson to campus on Monday, March 21 for a presentation titled “The Triumphs and Tragedies of LGBT History.” Dr. Johnson is the Director of Graduate Studies in the Gender Studies Department at Indiana University – Bloomington. His lecture will address the history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender movement in America.

This lecture is being co-sponsored by the Academic Projects Team and Haven.  The Academic Projects Team hosts interdisciplinary events on campus, like this year’s focus on mathematics.

Haven is West Shore’s student organization for LGBTQ individuals and their allies. “We wanted to continue the conversation the play started on our campus,” said Haven’s advisor, Renee Snodgrass. “Although you can no longer be arrested for being gay, there are many other ways in which LGBT people are discriminated against, and we hope that by learning about the past we can help to improve our future.”

Dr. Johnson’s lecture is at 7 p.m. in the Center Stage Theater.  Tickets are not required and the College invites the community to attend.