In the sea of dark suits in the Delaware Legislative Hall, Fiona Eramo, a Legislative Fellow through the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, proudly stands out with a unique style that includes colorful thrifted attire complemented by a “they/them” pronouns pin on the jacket lapel.

“Bringing my authentic self to work is really important to me,” Eramo said. 

Eramo, a Class of 2023 graduate and master’s degree student in public administration in the 4+1 program, joyfully embraces a nonbinary identity and is dedicated to making the campus more inclusive as well as advocating for the LGBTQ+ community at the University and beyond. Eramo’s passion for social justice has been a constant thread woven into studies at UD, extracurricular activities, work experience and career aspirations. 

A defining experience for Eramo was a summer internship with the Human Rights Campaign, the leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the United States. This opportunity was made possible through the Whittington Summer of Service Internship program in the Biden School, which provides crucial financial assistance to students pursuing unpaid public sector internships.

“Typically, I need to work my restaurant job during the summer. So, I would not have been able to accept the offer had it not been funded through the Whittington Internship,” Eramo said. “The experience ended up being a catalyst for my activism work at UD.”

At the Human Rights Campaign, Eramo conducted research on legislation, tracking the Equality Act in the U.S. Congress, which, if passed, would prohibit discrimination based on sex, gender identity and sexual orientation across employment, housing and education. The internship validated not only Eramo’s desire to work in public policy but increased the UD graduate student’s confidence and leadership abilities.

“I didn’t think I was a powerful enough change agent to make a difference at a large state university,” Eramo said. “But my experience and the skills I gained made me believe in myself and inspired me to start advocating for change at UD.”

Eramo is also a recipient of the Biden School's Julie Mapes Wilgen Award, which recognizes students who are committed to the study of human sexuality and gender studies and who believe in promoting diversity and the betterment of society.

“The Wilgen Award has directly advanced my ability as a working-class college student to continue striving for excellence and maintaining a high GPA while also working in several roles on campus," Eramo said. “This award aligns with my professional aspirations to continue working in the policy sphere and working towards the continued enactment of pro-equality legislation to continue promoting the diversity and betterment of marginalized communities across the world.”

Eramo served as president of the Planned Parenthood Generation Action, a UD registered student organization. Among many other leadership roles held as an undergraduate, Eramo served as a Social Justice Peer Educator within UD’s Division of Student Life, facilitating peer education sessions and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion dialogue across the campus community, including student organizations, athletics and Greek life. 

Eramo also worked as an LGBTQ+ education intern for UD’s Office of Institutional Equity, contributing to initiatives that supported students’ engagement and experiences around social justice. One example was implementing Gender Roles and Sexuality Programming panels, which featured classroom guest speakers sharing firsthand experiences and expanding students’ understanding of LGBTQ+ issues. 

Currently, as a Legislative Fellow within the Delaware State Senate Majority Caucus, Eramo is collaborating closely with lawmakers and gaining invaluable hands-on experience in the policymaking process — an energizing experience that confirmed they have found their calling.

“I can’t speak highly enough of my UD experience, but I’m ready for what’s next,” Eramo said. “After graduation, I plan to continue working in the Delaware General Assembly. I want to serve Delawareans and create real change that affects everyday people. The queer community is my community, but I’m also committed to intersectionality. I’m going to keep advocating for pro-equality policy and legislation across race, gender, sexuality and class.” 

When reflecting on Pride Month’s significance, Eramo recognizes that it’s a celebratory time for queer visibility, but cautions against losing sight of the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality and the corporatization of Pride, especially considering that 2023 was the worst year on record for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. 

“We need queer liberation, not rainbow capitalism. Many companies perform allyship during June only, which can be hurtful without substantive action,” Eramo said. “Furthermore, workplace education and training are important, but diversity, equity and inclusion workshops are low-hanging fruit. We need to look at changing organizational policies. For example, many company bereavement policies exclude ‘chosen family’ for LGBTQ+ folks.”

When asked about how we can collectively contribute to making the world safer and more inclusive for their community, Eramo said it’s an ongoing learning process and stresses the need to speak out against injustice.

“No one is an expert, and you don’t know until you know,” Eramo said. “We are all learning. The most important thing is to show that you are trying. It’s about what you do when queer people aren’t in the room.”