In the new semester, Pride is hoping to hand more control and
responsibility to members for Pride events and give regular members a leadership role within the group.
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Pride will be running Kid’s Corner. They will be in charge of games and prizes.
On March 6, a yet untitled Variety Show will be held. Pride hopes to take away emphasis on the drag aspects of this show and focus on different forms of entertainment. Although this isn’t a drag show, drag entertainers will still be present among other artists.
Pride is hoping to secure a Capital alumni’s band and a comedian. To keep the Variety Show socially conscious, as well as fun, Pride is going to partner with the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO). Representatives from BRAVO will attend, hand out brochures, and educate attendees about BRAVO’s goals and services.
Pride also seeks to participate in the Love Campaign and involve students in a transgender or intersectionality panel. Pride will attempt to hold both panels during the Love Campaign to get more attendees, but, if only one can be held during the campaign, the other panel will be held during a different time.
A goal for this semester is to get more involved with other groups on campus. If possible, Pride hopes to pair with another Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) group for their panel on intersectionality.
Some other events that are being planned will only occur if there is enough member interest. The Pride executive board poses ideas to members, and if the members show enough interest or take initiative, the executive board will move forward with that event.
If there is enough interest, Pride plans to have a team participate in Relay for Life and Lip Sync. A member of Pride that isn’t a part of the executive board has already stepped up to serve as a Relay for Life representative.
“We [the executive board] are here to make the members’ ideas become a reality,” Large Events Chair Thomas Carpenter said.
On a more serious note, Pride has already held an event for the suicide of a transgender woman, Leelah Alcorn, and for any other transgender people who have committed suicide. On Friday, Jan. 9, a vigil was held in the Pride room in Schaaf Hall. The event was attended by 16 people. Plastic lights were handed out and held as facts about transgender abuse and struggles were read aloud. A moment of silence was then observed.
“With all of these events, our goal is to make Pride a second home and a safe place for all of our members,” Carpenter said.
