We have to Show the World Who We Are

Trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people have always been part of Mount Holyoke’s history and community, from 1837 to now. Visibility and representation, however, have varied from century to century, decade to decade, year to year, and even day to day. This exhibition showcases how TGNC people were represented at Mount Holyoke College (MHC) as recorded between 1990 and 2024. It does so during a historic year in the life of the College: 2024 is the 10th anniversary of MHC adopting a TGNC-inclusive admissions policy.

This exhibition tells the story of TGNC people gaining representation in the 1990s and early 21st century. From identifying the late 1990s for trans representation in Mount Holyoke’s LGBTQ+ spaces, to showcasing the work of student artists in a 2013-2015 zine series, much can be learned from the records that predate official TGNC inclusion at MHC. TGNC people made critical contributions to the College’s community long before their inclusion through admissions, and these voices must never be forgotten.

This exhibition also provides a window into the historic activism that led to MHC’s inclusive policy adoption in 2014; also highlighted are snapshots of the years since the policy was implemented, with diverse experiences for TGNC people at MHC.

Explore “We have to Show the World Who We Are”: Trans and Gender Nonconforming History at Mount Holyoke for crucial insights into both MHC’s progress as an inclusive and supportive space for the TGNC community, and the growth still needed for MHC to uplift past, present, and future generations of TGNC community members.

This exhibition was curated by Lily E. Rood ’27, Lynk Intern. Online adaptation by Tracey Kry ‘04, Digital Collections Archivist.

Thank you to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the support of this exhibition and #TGNC10.