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Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Larios

The Theater Offensive’s “Queer Prom” brings together Bostonians to celebrate LGBTQ+ liberation

By Sam Lawrence, Beacon Correspondent / February 21, 2024

The Theater Offensive’s latest community-building event brought together some of Boston’s most notable queer activists and performers for a special...

Illustration by Rachel Choi.

Finger-Lickin’ Good? The coding of queerness as cannibalism in “Bones and All” 

By Ty Gavin / April 5, 2023

In 1846, The Donner Party, pioneers from Illinois in search of homestead in California, resorted to cannibalism as a means of survival. Decades later,...

Wicked Queer is here: alum-programmed film festival uplifts LGBTQ voices

Wicked Queer is here: alum-programmed film festival uplifts LGBTQ voices

By Ryan Yau / March 29, 2023

The Boston LGBTQ+ Film Festival—now known as Wicked Queer—has survived the ups and downs of queer history. It was founded in 1984, before gay marriage...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Your favorite athlete is probably a terrible person

By Camilo Fonseca / March 22, 2023

At the end of January, the hockey world lost a man who, at the height of his career, earned the admiration of millions with his legendary playmaking on...

The set of "Mary, Sweet Mary"

‘Mary, Sweet Mary…’ brings modern queer themes to the Elizabethan era

By Sasha Zirin / March 9, 2023

“Mary, Sweet Mary, or The Final Tragedy of Christopher Marlowe” entered the hearts and minds of the public last weekend, lighting up the stage with...

Megan Mitchell as a Good Morning Emerson host in 2013

Emerson Alum, journalist, and viral TikToker: Megan Mitchell does it all

By Emma Bowen and Meg Richards / March 9, 2023

Emerson alum Megan Mitchell has built a wildly successful journalism career off of her TikTok success, bridging the gap between old and new media. She...

Portraits of Pride intersects the past and future of LGBTQ history

Portraits of Pride intersects the past and future of LGBTQ history

By Ryan Yau, Correspondent / October 14, 2022

At the intersection of Boston Common and the Public Garden, two of the oldest parks in America, lies the Portraits of Pride exhibition. The exhibition...

Hailey Akau

Linking clothing and queerness might ‘boost visibility,’ but it also encourages stereotypes

By Vivi Smilgius / March 23, 2022

Last Wednesday afternoon, the New York Post tweeted a link to an article titled “‘Dressing like a lesbian’ is the sexy and ‘powerful’ new fashion...

The event is entirely student-run, with Sam Willinger (center) leading the way.

SAAC, men’s volleyball team support LGBTQ+ athletes in You Can Play Week

By Joey DuBois / March 31, 2021

You Can Play Week, an initiative spearheaded by the Student Athletic Advisory Council and the men’s volleyball team to promote safety and inclusion for...

He's Got Spunk: He texts me, he texts me not

He’s Got Spunk: He texts me, he texts me not

By Gary Sowder / December 15, 2020

Much like everyone in my generation, I use dating apps. Tinder, Grindr, and Hinge are currently downloaded on my phone. And despite the desperation that...

Artist Lilly E. Manycolors spoke about her mixed media art at a virtual forum hosted by Emerson Contemporary on Nov. 6.

Artist Lilly E. Manycolors confronts gender binary, healing and trauma with Emerson Contemporary

By Clarah Grossman / November 25, 2020

Performance artist Lilly E. Manycolors began her presentation about mixed media art with a moment of silence and a land recognition of Indigenous territory....

Lee Forrest, Director of 'Or What You Won't' produced by student organization Theyta.

Theyta produced virtual reading of ‘Or What You Won’t’

By Clarah Grossman / November 14, 2020

A bell rings through the theater, announcing the start of the show. People take their seats, the room goes dark, and the curtain rises. At least, this...

"Cured" (2020) is an American documentary directed by Bennett Singer and Patrick Sammon.

Film review: ‘Cured’ reminds us the necessity of LGBTQ+ activism

By Joshua Sokol, Assistant Arts Editor / November 11, 2020

After four years of the Trump administration rolling back LGBTQ+ protections, particularly those protecting the trans community, documentaries like Cured,...

Shawna Konieczny is a junior IDIP major from Medford, Wisconsin.

Why I am one of the voters that helped Wisconsin go blue

By Shawna Konieczny, Staff Writer / November 10, 2020

Four years ago, I had just turned seventeen. I was balancing the stress of school at Medford Area Senior High in Wisconsin, a social life, and the mental...

He's Got Spunk- 'The Ick'

He’s Got Spunk- ‘The Ick’

By Gary Sowder / October 21, 2020

Temperatures have started to dip below the sixties. The leaves in the Common are fluttering off the trees. The pumpkin spice latte is back. It’s...

The Office for Civil Rights currently has one open investigation into the college after a parent of a former student alleged that the college discriminated against their son.

The Berkeley Beacon News Hour 12/13: Semester wrap up

By Kyle Bray / December 13, 2019

Listen to "The Berkeley Beacon News Hour on WECB 12/13: Semester wrap up" on Spreaker. Berkeley Beacon editors went live on WECB with the latest...

Head Over Feels: Where can I show my queer identity?

Head Over Feels: Where can I show my queer identity?

By Grace Griffin / December 12, 2019

During the first semester of my freshman year in 2017, I walked into my suite mates’ room and closed the door behind me. “I think I’m bisexual,”...

Abigail Hadfield. - Graphic by Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

What does trans look like?

By Abigail Hadfield / November 6, 2019

As a journalist, I try to follow as many diverse voices on Twitter as possible. I follow journalists from news outlets I like, from ones I don’t like,...

Kyle Labe - Graphic by Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

Remembering Matthew Shepard 21 years later

By Kyle Labe / October 29, 2019

My high school selected The Laramie Project for its fall production during my senior year. This was a shock to me, knowing my town and the conservative...

Gary Sowder - Graphic by Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

Don’t call me by my body count

By Gary Sowder / October 25, 2019

My evening started like any other Thursday night—meaning it started at the Tam. It was early September, and I wore my nicest H&M button-up—okay,...