It's that time of year again! The planning process for our 2nd Annual PRIDE Week has officially begun! We are so excited to bring this program back after a successful relaunch in Spring 2023. That being said, in spirit of LGBTQIA2+ Pride we want to make this a bigger, more collaborative effort. 

In order to ensure smooth communication and co-creation of what's to come for PRIDE Week 2024, we have created the Spring 2024 PRIDE Week Partnership Submission Form. Link will also be available via The Pride Center Linktree. 

• Do you have prescheduled program that has an LGBTQIA2+ focus that falls within PRIDE Week 2024 and would appreciate the cross-promotion?
• Do you have a program idea that we would like to propose to partner in planning, co-sponsoring, or funding?
• Would you like to volunteer your time or provide funds toward programs, resources, and initiatives related to PRIDE Week?

This year we are open to creating programs for ALL Retrievers and will run from Sunday, April 14th - Saturday, April 20th, 2024. This includes undergraduate/graduate students, staff, faculty, alums, and campus affiliates. Have any questions? Please reach out to i3b@umbc.edu. 

Due to staffing, The Pride Center will be closed after 4pm today. We expect to open tomorrow during our regularly scheduled business hours. Feel free to visit any of our other i3b spaces or email us at i3b@umbc.edu if you have any questions. We apologize for the inconvenience!

We would like to take a moment to thank our (seb) partners this weekend for a successful event this past Saturday evening. We'd also like to thank all of our attendees for a fun night of entertainment and costumes! As we are winding down from our largest event this semester, we wanted to share some additional queer-friendly/centered Halloween related festivities. 

We will be closing today at our normal 6:30 time but we encourage you to swing by tonights' QPOCalypse event hosted by QPOC from 7:00-10:00p.m. in The Commons SportsZone.

To support other Halloween festivities, our center will close at 6pm tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 31. We will also be out supporting our sister Center The Mosaic and Off-Campus Student Services for their Potion Making event.

Stay tuned later this week for photos, music playlists, and other fun highlights from this past weekend. 

With Pride,

-The Pride Center for LGBTQIA2+ Diversity staff

LGBTQ+ History Month originated in the United States, and was first celebrated in 1994. This month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer history celebrates role models, and the history of the LGBTQIA2+ rights and related civil rights movements. In the United States, it is celebrated in October to coincide with National Coming Out Day on October 11. However, countries recognize this month at different times of the year according to their specific significant events (e.g. United Kingdom recognizes this in February)

Founded by Missouri high-school history teacher, Rodney Wilson, many queer organizations supported the concept early on as did Governors William Weld of Massachusetts and Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, who recognized the inaugural month with official proclamations. In 1995, the National Education Association indicated support of LGBTQ+ History Month as well as other history months by resolution at its General Assembly.

Wilson chose October as the month for the celebration due to National Coming Out Day. It was established as a widely known event, on October 11, the date of the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights that took place in 1987. June is recognized as Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots taking place on June 28-July 1. 

We have some upcoming events for the month to coincide with this cultural month. More details will be released later in another post. 

With Pride, 

The Pride Center Staff Team

To say that we have been surprised at the increased foot traffic in our space this semester would be an understatement! We appreciate how many new and returning faces have swung by and keep coming back this year. Our student staff have been gracious enough to offer some additional time at the center for Mondays and Fridays. 

Starting next week, our center will be closing at 6:30p.m. Mondays and Fridays with the intention to engage with our community for a little longer. Please stay tuned for more engagement opportunities. 

-Carlos Turcios on behalf of The Pride Center Staff