To mark the halfway point of Pride Week, members of the University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning Alliance marched through campus Wednesday, holding colorful, expressive signs and handmade flags and speaking out on the issues that affect them at the EMU Amphitheater.
From shirt decoration and tie-dying to learning the different styles of “drag” and creating decorative pinup buttons, the annual Pride Week is an opportunity to comfortably demonstrate one’s sexual orientation or other identities. The aim is to have a week-long dedication to embracing the queer community.@@http://commonsensej.blogspot.com/2008/06/ap-style-hourlong.html@@
“(Pride Week) is for those that had been prejudiced and didn’t have time to come out and want to talk about it,” said Ryan Riddick, LGBTQA event coordinator. “This is for them. We are proud of you, and this is your stage.”@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=riddick@@
LGBTQA provided events all week for members of the queer community to express themselves in different ways. Riddick said Pride Week has been going on for 11 years and is usually held in the ninth week of spring term. This year, however, the organization decided to move the celebration into the eighth week to combine with its other major annual event, Queer Prom. As opposed to other college campuses that held month-long pride celebrations in the past, Riddick said, “We can do it big and fast and have the same impact if we put it in a small week.”
Queer Prom went through several changes in its theme – from “’90s Night,” “Born This Way” and “Cameo Night” – before settling unanimously on “Alice In Wonderland.” With the formal dance gathering usually upholding heterosexual norms, the night allows the queer community to enjoy a prom with their chosen partner.
University junior and LGBTQA member Greg Kirby will be attending Queer Prom for the second time. Kirby said the night is the perfect capstone to Pride Week and an “all-inclusive, celebratory state.”@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=kirby@@
“The ability to be out and proud of who you are is really empowering,” Kirby said. “The longer I’ve been out and proud, the more fun and exciting it is.”
University freshman Julia Riley frequently attends the LGBTQA meetings for their “Stitch ‘n’ Bitch” knitting social group. Riley said Pride Week is a significant festivity for this community.@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=riley@@
“I think it’s important for us to get out here and create a space for anybody to talk,” Riley said, “even if they’re not part of the LGBTQA or any other of those programs.”
Aside from LGBTQA, there are several campus resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students. LGBT.uoregon.edu is committed to providing education and promoting respect by serving as a consultation and resource service. Similarly, the University Counseling & Testing Center provides a confidential consulting service for students who identify as part of the community or in the transition process.@@http://counseling.uoregon.edu/dnn/@@
Riddick said Pride Week has drawn students who don’t associate as part of the LGBTQA community but have shown support. Riddick hopes Saturday’s event of dancing and dressing in stylish Alice in Wonderland costumes will be a fun release of pride.
“We welcome everybody,” Riddick said.
The Queer Prom is free and is open to the public. It will be held in Gerlinger Annex from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday.