March 5, 2020
Oakland University’s Pride Month, which celebrates OU’s diversity in sexual orientation and gender identity, will kick off at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 9 with an opening ceremony featuring the inaugural Tim Larrabee Memorial Lecture.
“The Gender & Sexuality Center is thrilled to present Pride Month 2020,” said Grace Wojcik, coordinator of the GSC. “It’s especially meaningful to be able to honor the legacy of Tim Larrabee, a professor who dedicated so much of his time and effort to improving campus and the greater community for LGBTQ people.”
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| Cleve Jones, LGBTQ and AIDS activist |
The Tim Larrabee Memorial Lecture, which will take place in Founders Ballroom C inside the Oakland Center, will feature Cleve Jones, a renowned LGBTQ and AIDS activist, as guest speaker.
“From his early days in the gay liberation movement with Harvey Milk to co-founding the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, founding the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and fighting for marriage equality, Jones has made history as part of one of the most inspiring human rights movements of all time,” Wojcik said.
Jones was portrayed in the Oscar-winning film, Milk, by Emile Hirsch, and was prominently featured in the film, “And the Band Played On,” as well as in the critically acclaimed miniseries, “When We Rise,” which was inspired by his memoir of the same name.
“Now speaking out for all who struggle for equality and fair treatment, Jones brings powerful perspective and storytelling talent to timely discussions of diversity, intersectionality and civil and human rights,” Wojcik said.
Following the opening ceremony, Pride Month will continue through April 9. Other activities and events include:
• LGBTQIA Books for Children and Young Adults: From March 9 – April 9, the Educational Resources Lab (ERL) will present a large display of books featuring LGBTQIA characters, history and issues, in Room 350 of Pawley Hall. The books are available for check-out to anyone with an OU Grizz ID.
• The importance of Health for the LGBTQIA+ Community: This event, which will take place at 7 p.m. on March 10 in the Lake Superior Room inside the Oakland Center, is hosted by the Oakland University Student Congress. It is meant to be an open and honest discussion about the mental and sexual health of those in the LGBTQIA+ community and will include a panel/round table discussion featuring experts on the mental and physical questions of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
• Q&Gay with RLA (Trivia Night): Join RLA at 7 p.m. on March 18 in the Glass Rooms inside Vandenberg Hall for a fun night of bingo and other trivia games regarding terminology, resources, and the culture of the LGBTQIA+ community. There will be prizes for game winners and giveaways for all attendance. Snacks will also be served.
• Desserts and Discussions with Professor Sanders: From 4:30-5:30 p.m. on March 17 in Room 203 inside Dodge Hall, Associate Professor of Sociology George Sanders will be leading a discussion about Queer Social Theory and the ways in which it effects college students. This event is hosted by the Sociology Club.
• Creating Inclusive Spaces for Transgender Students at OU: Faculty and staff are invited to come hear about OU transgender experiences and learn about how to create more inclusive spaces for transgender students in the classroom, through one-on-one interactions, and through programming. The event will take place from 1-2:30 p.m. on March 18 in Gold Room C inside the Oakland Center and is hosted by LGBTQIA ERG and the AP Assembly Professional Development Committee.
• Pride Glow Party: From 6-10 p.m. on March 20, come party with the Student Program Board in Banquet Room B inside the Oakland Center as the SPB celebrates Pride Month in the brightest way possible: with music, dancing, food, glow sticks, and of course, UV body paint.
• 36th Annual Women and Gender Studies Film Festival: Women and Gender Studies will present KIKI, a look inside the world of a new generation of LGBTQ youth-of-color who practice the performance-based art form of Ballroom, from noon to 3 p.m. on March 21 in Room 1050 inside the Human Health Building. KIKI follows seven characters from the Kiki community over the course of four years, using their preparations and spectacular performances at events known as Kiki balls as a framing device while delving into their battles with homelessness, illness and prejudice as well as their gains towards political influence and the conquering of affirming gender-expressions. The event, which will include a post-film discussion, is free and open to the public and free food will be provided.
• Pride Prom: Join the Gay-Straight Alliance for Pride Prom from 6-10 p.m. on March 21 in Banquet Room B inside the Oakland Center. This event will be a fun and meaningful event for all, whether one wants to relive the prom experience or just join in on the fun.
• Jeopardy! PRIDE Edition: This event, hosted by Undergraduate Admissions, will encompass the history of the LGBTQIA+ community in a JEOPARDY! like style. It will take place from 12:30-2 p.m. on March 24 in Room 103 inside North Foundation Hall.
• Lesser Known Gender Identities Panel: From noon to 1:30 p.m. on March 27, individuals of lesser known gender and sexual identities will share their unique stories about their experience in the LGBTQ+ community. They will answer questions, dispel myths, discuss their coming out experiences, and give insight into what their lives are like in the community today. This event will be formatted as a Q&A panel. Hosted by the American Medical Student Association, this event will take place in Room 203 inside O’Dowd Hall.
• Pride Month Book Club Discussion: Join the Center for Multicultural Initiatives from noon to 1 p.m. on March 30 in Room 128-129 inside the Oakland Center for a discussion of the book, “Divinely Queer,” written by Jennifer Miracle-Best.
• Desserts and Discussions with Professor Reger: On March 31, Professor of Sociology Jo Reger will present “Singing to Utopia: Lesbianism, Feminism and Music” from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Room 203 inside Dodge Hall. This event is hosted by the Sociology Club.
• Hot Tea with a Hot Topic: Black while LGBT+: Hosted by the Association of Black Students, this event will include a discussion on being LGBT in the black community. It will take place at 5 p.m. on April 1 in the Lake Michigan Room inside the Oakland Center. Light refreshments will be provided.
• 17th Annual Drag Show: The drag show is the Gay-Straight Alliance’s largest event, with hundreds of spectators each year. This drag show will consist of both professional and student-auditioned performers. It will take place from 7-11 p.m. on April 2 in the Founders Ballroom inside the Oakland Center.
• Screening & Discussion of the Documentary, “We Exist: Beyond the Binary,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 7 in Room 203 inside O’Dowd Hall. Released in 2018, “We Exist: Beyond the Binary,” is one of the first films to showcase the growing community of non-binary individuals and shares their stories of navigating a world structured around the gender construct of male/female. This event is hosted by the OUWB Medical Library, OUWB Diversity and Inclusion, and the OUWB Queers & Allies Student Organization.
• 8th Annual Lavender Graduation Celebration & Award Ceremony: Hosted by the Gender & Sexuality Center, this event will take place from 6-9 p.m. on April 9 in Banquet room A inside the Oakland Center. This event serves to celebrate the achievements of Oakland University's LGBTQIA and ally graduates of all levels. All are welcome to attend. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. If you are graduating in April 2020 or December 2020, you can apply to be a part of the ceremony. You must be signed into your Oakland email to access the form.
For more information about Pride Month at OU, visit oakland.edu/gsc/pride-month.