As Haverford celebrates LGBTQIA+ History Month, we spoke to Anna Bradley ’24, a chemistry major, varsity field hockey captain, and a Play With Pride Club leader, about how she expresses her identity at Haverford.
Hi, Anna. Can you tell us about yourself and how you wound up at Haverford?
I’m a chemistry major, a health studies minor, and a captain on the varsity field hockey team here. I’m also a member of Bounce, the college’s hip-hop dance group. I also volunteer in hospice care with Main Line Health and as a math tutor with the Free for the Frontlines tutoring program. I’m also a chemistry teaching assistant.
I’m from San Diego, and what brought me to Haverford was the close connections you can make with professors. I also really liked the honor code and how accepting the school was. I also really liked my team, especially as I got to know my teammates.
Can you talk a little bit about how you identify and how, if at all, you manifest your identity at Haverford?
I’m gay, and I love it. I am super comfortable here at Haverford.
At Haverford, I’ve really connected with my friends, teammates, and roommates, so I feel very comfortable sharing my feelings with them. I feel very supported and comfortable when I talk to them.
I’m also a co-head of the Play with Pride Club. I was very excited to join because we do a lot of fun things, like pride games where teams can show their allyship and support one another. If you ask my coach, she’ll tell you that in previous years, most of our team weren’t very open about their sexualities. But this year we’re so comfortable with each other.
Also, in the classroom, I like to offer different perspectives because we live in such a heteronormative society. Sometimes I’ll raise my hand just to contribute a different perspective.
Can you tell us something about your identity that’s unique to you?
I wear a chain every day and my friends all know this. They’re always saying, “Anna is wearing her chain today.” But I actually wear it every day.
I wear it because sometimes I like to dress more masculine or more feminine, but I always have this necklace on to show people what side I’m on. In a social setting, it can be hard to know who is gay or not. I think it’s a subtle, stereotypical thing that might be more common on social media and TikTok, but all my friends know. And if it’s not a thing then spread the word!
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I just want to say, I hope that every child can be themself and everyone feels supported. Wherever you are, just know that you’re not alone. You’ll find your people and somewhere where people do accept you. Just keep being you because it’s the best. It’s so fun to be yourself