Thursday, June 25th @ 7 PM

RSVP Required. RSVP Here.

Transgender people have always existed – but the term “transgender” is relatively new. In this 20 minute talk, Tony Pankuch will explore how trans people in the United States and Europe identified themselves, built community, and laid the foundations for the modern trans rights movement throughout the 20^th century. On the way, they’ll cover major figures in trans history, such as Jennie June, Reed Erickson, Virginia Prince, and Sylvia Rivera, as well as key publications and events.  Afterwards, there will be a time for questions and answers.

Tony Pankuch is a museum educator, public historian, and LGBTQ+ advocate based in Akron, Ohio. They earned their B.A. in History from The University of Akron’s Williams Honors College, and their Master’s in Library and Information Science from Kent State University. Tony is the Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology, where they develop educational tours, exhibits, and programs. They also serve as Co-Lead of the Akron LGBTQ+ Archive at The University of Akron, an oral history and collecting initiative focused on preserving local LGBTQ+ history. Tony is a frequent speaker on LGBTQ+ history and inclusion at regional and national conferences, including the American Alliance of Museums and the American Association for State and Local History.