History of POTH

The idea to create an LGBT alumni organization for the Tufts community has its roots in the mid-1980’s. During Memorial Day Weekend 1984, several founding members of Pride on the Hill (POTH), including Becky Stephens J’79, Jane Marlowe J’81, Sherri Victor J’81 and Gordon Gottleib A’78 organized a reunion of gay, lesbian and bisexual alumni in Provincetown, Massachusetts. While this gathering marked the symbolic beginning of POTH, it was not until 1992 that the organization formally took shape.

On November 14th and 15th, 1992, POTH held inaugural celebrations in Boston, New York, Washington D.C. and San Francisco after more than a year of planning by a host of Tufts alumni and students, including the first Executive Director Jeff Javits A’93. In the following years, POTH played an important role in reconnecting LGBT alumni to the University and increasing their visibility in the Tufts community. POTH supported the initiatives and development of the fledgling LGB Resource Center (founded the same year as POTH) and established the POTH Endowment Fund, which continues to support the Pride on the Hill Award, given annually to the outstanding junior or senior who makes a unique contribution to LGBT life on the Tufts campus.

During the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, formal activity by POTH waned, although the number of out students at Tufts continued to grow and the LGBT community made great strides in gaining visibility and acceptance on campus. Meanwhile, the LGB Resource Center secured increased support from the University, eventually moving to Bolles House and changing it’s name to the Tufts Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Center.

In June 2006, Ari Kristan A’03, with the support of LGBT Center Director Dona Yarbrough and the Tufts University Alumni Association (TUAA), took on the task of bringing POTH out of its long dormant state. Serving as the first POTH President since the 1990’s, Kristan organized the tremendously successful 1st Annual Pride Reception in Davis Square. Since then, Kristan, her successor as President, John M. Francis A’04, and other members of the Executive Committee have worked to once again increase the visibility of POTH among alumni, forge ties with the TUAA, and establish initiatives to support LGBT and ally alumni and students.

With the support of alumni, students, and the university, Pride On The Hill will continue to be an important link between Tufts and its graduates in the LGBT and ally community!