Penn State community celebrates Campus Pride Month in April

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD), a unit of Penn State Student Affairs, in collaboration with partners around Penn State, will be celebrating Pride Month throughout April. In addition, University campuses across the commonwealth will be hosting events.

Please note: All in-person events will require participants to follow the University's COVID-19 guidelines, including wearing face masks and physically distancing.

The CSGD's April programming will include keynote speakers, workshops and student recognitions, as well as in-person and virtual engagement experiences. More information on these events and others can be found on the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity website and on the center’s social media @PennStateLGBT.

MONTH-LONG EVENTS

Social Media PRIDE Shoutouts (virtual) — Individuals and organizations representing Penn State communities across the commonwealth will take over the center's social media platforms and spread the much-needed positivity of Penn State PRIDE through inspirational videos. Watch the center's social media throughout the month for more.

Pride Run (virtual) — All month, students can run or walk 5K to celebrate Campus Pride Month, an opportunity to show pride in their communities. Participants will receive a commemorative patch (submissions end April 23). Registration is required. 

EVENTS AT UNIVERSITY PARK

April 1 at 6 p.m. — PRIDE Zumba (Virtual) — Join the center's office coordinator, Stephanie Whitesell, as we kick off Pride Month. $1 will be suggested but is not required to access the Zumba session. Livestream at this link.

April 5, 6 and 7, from noon until they are gone — HUB Takeover and Pride Cookie Giveaway-Grab & Go (In person) — Students can pick up individually wrapped pride themed cookies in the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Room LL011 HUB-Robeson Center. 

April 5 and 30, from 4:15 to 4:30 p.m. — ABSolutely Fabulous Ab Workout (Virtual) — Students can enjoy a quick and fabulous ab workout with campus recreation.  Register through the Campus Recreation website.  

April 6 — Pride Round Robin Tennis Tournament (In person) — Register at this link.

April 7 at 5 p.m. — HonesT: LGBTQ+ Allyship (Virtual) — Students can learn more about being an ally for the LGBTQ+ community. Students can learn terminology, learn about LGBTQ+ activism, and have an honest discussion about what it means to be an ally. Register for the event here.

April 7 at 7 p.m. — Lions PRIDE Roundtable: Movie Night (Virtual) — Join the Lions Pride student organization for a virtual movie night! Follow Lions Pride on Instagram @pennstatelionpride for more information.

April 8 at 6 p.m. — Model Minority Discussion (Virtual) — The Model Minority discussion will be an educational event to raise awareness of Anti-Asian racism. During the discussion we will educate participants about what the model minority myth is and how it disproportionately affects the Asian community. We also plan to address the recent attacks on the Asian community that have happened so frequently this year. Email [email protected] for the Zoom link.

April 9 at 2 p.m. — Afternoon Stroll at The Aboretum at Penn State (In person) — Students can enjoy spring and a break from studies with some fresh air at Arboretum, then enjoy some individually packaged food afterwards. Meet at Penn State Arboretum Entrance Area. Register at this link.

April 9, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. — Pride Zine Workshop (Virtual) — Gender and Sexual Diversity in Schreyer’s student group is holding a Zine workshop. Please register the week of March 29–April 5 to receive materials for the workshop. Register for materials here.

April 9, 16 and 30, from 4:15 to 5 p.m. — Outdoor Rainbow Power Remix (In person) — Every Friday, University Park Campus Recreation will have Pride-themed Power Remix's! Get into the groove with these outdoor group dance classes. Register through the Campus Recreation website.  

April 12 at 5 p.m. — Queer Food Foundation (Virtual) — Join Brooklyn-based community activist and Penn State alum Gabrielle Lenart as she hosts a panel of esteemed queer chefs and activists, including Vanessa Parish, pastry chef, mental health advocate, board member of @queerfoodfoundation and host of "Tasting Our Roots" on @tasty; Destiny, Veggie Mijas coordinator and Cuba-Rican vegan; and Tiffany Bryant, the pastry chef of Hunky Dory, lead burrito roller at Ursula, and artist and hat enthusiast. Registration link to come.

April 13 and 27 at 12:15 p.m. — Flow-n-Glow Yoga (In person) — Students can enjoy some inclusive yoga through campus recreation. Register through the Campus Recreation website.

April 14 at 5 p.m. — Pride Month Keynote Speaker: Jonathan Groff (Virtual) — American actor and singer Jonathan Drew Groff is a prolific actor on stage, screen and television, and recipient of a Grammy Award and nominated for two Tony Awards. As an actor, he appeared in "Frozen" (2013), "Hamilton" (2020) and "Mindhunter" (2017). An advocate and activist, he has used his platform to speak about both the challenges and opportunities young LGBTQ+ people face in society. The WPSU watch link will be posted here and on the CSGD's social media.

April 15 at 6 p.m. — QPOC Music Trivia Night (Virtual) — Come and learn about different music that is written and performed by queer people of color. Email [email protected] for the event link.  

April 16, All Day — Snapchat CSGD — Use a snapchat filter created by the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity to celebrate pride on campus! Filter can be found around Old Main and the HUB-Robeson Center. Tag us @psulgbtqa.

April 16, All Day — Day of Art (Virtual) — We will showcase student art and short videos all day via social media. This is an opportunity for graduate and professional students from all fields to showcase their creative talents and unique perspectives. Register at this link. 

April 17 at noon — Out of the Closet: Clothing Transit (In person) — The Clothing Transit, located in the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity at the HUB-Robeson Center, will be featured. Students can learn more about this amazing resource for transgender and non-binary students and pick some clothes out for themselves. 

April 17 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. — Trans Positive Swim (In person) — As part of Campus Recreation’s celebration of Pride Month, we are offering Trans-Positive Swim sessions at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, in the McCoy Natatorium. This is an inclusive swim time for trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary students, as well as trans allies. Anyone willing to participate in creating a positive space for trans folk is welcome. Clean clothing dedicated to swimming is the only requirement for bathing attire. We encourage swimmers to arrive at the pool with their bathing suit on, however we will also have men’s and women’s locker rooms as well as gender-inclusive changing spaces available. You can reserve your spot by registering below. Both the instruction pool and competition pool will be available for a total of 12 available lanes in each session. Registration is required at pennstatecampusrec.org.

April 19-22, Times vary — Pride Ride: Indoor Cycling (In Person) — Students can enjoy pride-themed indoor cycling all week through campus recreation. Ride with pride! Register through the Campus Recreation website.

April 19 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. — Queer Peers Q’mmunity Social (In-Person) — First-year, change-of-campus and transfer students are welcome to create a care package for themselves or for someone else. Meet at the CSGD in LL011 HUB-Robeson Center to create these packages and meet other students. These snacks will help students get through the next two weeks as they are getting ready for finals and the end of the semester. Register to reserve a spot at this link. 

April 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — KaraoGay (In-Person) — Students are welcome to come by the HUB-Robeson Lawn tents for some pride-themed Karaoke.  

April 20 at 6 p.m. — QPOC Wellness Workshop (Virtual) — Working towards racial equity while balancing multiple marginalized identities is tiring. Come learn some wellness techniques that help you take care of you first before the rest of the world. Email [email protected] for program link. 

April 21 — 5 p.m. — Know Your Rights (Virtual and In-person) — Students can get an overview about their rights as LGBTQ+ individuals in various situations, including employment, being a consumer, protests and rallies, on-campus housing, and more. Register at this link.

April 22 at 6 p.m. — Watch and Learn: "Paris is Burning" (Virtual) — This documentary focuses on drag queens living in New York City and their "house" culture, which provides a sense of community and support for the flamboyant and often socially shunned performers. Groups from each house compete in elaborate balls that take cues from the world of fashion. Also touching on issues of racism and poverty, the film features interviews with several renowned drag queens, including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey. Email [email protected] for the virtual link. 

April 23 at 6 p.m. — Lavender Recognition (Virtual) — As we take pride in Penn State this April, we also take pride in our students, staff and faculty. While we are supporting our communities remotely, we are still planning to honor our graduating undergraduate, graduate and professional students and those who make a difference in our community. If you are graduating, please sign-up for Lavender Recognition and if you want to nominate someone for an annual LGBTQ+ Award, nominate them here.

April 26, All Day — Graduate Care Packages: Pick up in Center (In person) — Graduate students can pick up a small care package to help them get through finals week. 

April 28 from 3:30 to 4:10 p.m. — Punch with Pride (In person) — Students can sign up for an inclusive kickboxing class through campus recreation. Register through the Campus Recreation website.  

April 28 at 5 p.m. — LGBTQ+ History Webinar (Virtual) — Students can learn more about LGBTQ+ history through an enthusiastic presentation from the center. The webinar link is 917 3774 0318.

April 28 at 7:30 p.m. — Tony Award-winning dance artist Bill T. Jones, artistic director of New York Live Arts, and Janet Wong, the New York City dance theater venue’s associate artistic director, will join “Meeting the Moment with Michael Mwenso” for a live conversation via Zoom. Read this story for more information.

COMMONWEALTH CAMPUS EVENTS

In addition to the events happening at University Park, our campus partners across the commonwealth are also sponsoring events in celebration of Pride.

Events at Penn State Abington

• April 13 at 3 p.m. — Student LGBTQ+ Allyship 101 workshop — This workshop will introduce students to what it means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer; how to use gender neutral pronouns; and how to be an effective ally. Fun and informative icebreakers will get students talking and expanding their knowledge about being more inclusive and embracing sexual and gender diversity. Sign into Engage for the Zoom link.

Events at Penn State Altoona

• April 2 at 7 p.m. — Kahoot! Trivia with Pride Alliance via Zoom — Kahoot topics may include a variety of LGBTQ+ topics relating to its history, pop culture, and more! Register on Connect and follow Penn State Altoona Pride on Instagram @psua_pride

• April 13 at 12:15 p.m. — "Life is a Drag": Drag show and discussion — A collaborative event with Penn State Altoona, Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Mont Alto. The performers will both share their journey in drag, as well as tips and tricks they have learned through personal experience; and participants will learn about the history of drag, from Shakespeare’s days all the way to the ever-popular RuPaul of "RuPaul’s Drag Race." Campus community members should check their email for Zoom details.
• April 19, 6 p.m., Slep Pondview — Watch Party: "We're Here" — This six-part, unscripted series follows small-town residents as they’re recruited and trained to participate in a one-night-only drag performance. In each episode, former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara and Shangela Laquifa Wadley will help prepare their “drag daughters” by teaching them how to step outside of their comfort zones. Food provided. Register on Connect.

Events at Penn State Berks

• Apr. 5–9 — "Love Out Loud with Pride" video — Kick off Campus Pride Month with this video of submitted clips from the campus community that represent how community members show their pride. The video will be available for viewing on the Penn State Berks YouTube channel and other social media platforms. For additional information, contact Ivy Wang, coordinator of residence life, at 610-396-6294 or [email protected].
• Apr. 15, at 7 p.m. — Dominique Jackson, activist, model, and actress on FX television series "Pose" — From fleeing persecution as a transgender woman in her home country of Trinidad and Tobago, to starring in a hit television show, Jackson has seen it all. After experiencing homelessness and rejection from her own family, she has used her success to shed light on the challenges transgender women too often face. Jackson portrays Elektra Abundance on "Pose," which follows the 1980s/1990s African American and Latinx LGBTQ+ gender-nonconforming ballroom culture scene. Offered via Zoom as part of the Arts and Lecture Series. Contact Angie DiJiacomo, assistant director of student affairs of campus life, at 610-396-6076 or at [email protected] for more information.
• Apr. 23, at 6 p.m. — Lavender Graduation — An inspiring and affirming ceremony that celebrates the achievements of students in the LGBTQ+ community from all Penn State campuses. All guests must register in advance.

Events at Penn State Brandywine

April 26, 12:15-1:15 p.m. — Celebrate Pride! Join us in celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and our allies with tie dye and other fun activities. Refreshments — including pride pizza and rainbow Rice Krispies treats — will be served! Email [email protected] for more information.

April 27, 2-3 p.m. — "Spectrums" Book Chat — Join the Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Commission on Advancing Accessibility and Disability, and Vairo Library for a #diversereadingchallenge Book Chat. We’ll be discussing "Spectrums: Autistic Transgender People in their Own Words," edited by Maxfield Sparrow. Email [email protected] for more information.

Events at Penn State Dubois

• April 5 at 12:15 p.m. — Genderbread Workshop with Marly Doty (Virtual) — info: Brittany Stanton, [email protected]
• April 13 at 12:15 p.m. — LGBTQ+ Discussion Group (Virtual) — info: Rebecca Pennington, [email protected]
• April 21 at 12:15 p.m. — Ash Beckham's "I Am So Gay" (Virtual) — Zoom link

Events at Penn State Fayette

• Throughout April — LGBTQ+ Pride Month Exhibit — Penn State Fayette Library
• Throughout April — LGBTQ+ Creativity Expo-Student Center/Social Media on Penn State Fayette's Facebook and Instagram (@pennstatefayette)
• April 5 at 12:15 p.m. — Advocacy Series: LGBT+ ALLIES — Zoom link. The Advocacy Series is designed to help you advocate for peers, manage crisis situations, and overcome adversities. Free with valid student ID. Sponsored by Counseling Services.
• April 20 at noon-1:15 p.m. — Film Screening: "Stonewall Uprising" (Virtual) — Zoom link — This event is co-sponsored by the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (IDEA) and the Pride Alliance Working for Students (PAWS).

Events at Penn State Hazleton

• April 15 at 6:30 p.m. — Virtual showcase of "The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson" — The film chronicles Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, prominent figures in gay liberation and the transgender rights movement in New York City from the 1960s to the 1990s. Students can pick up a painting kit or paint-by-the numbers kit in Butler 105 and paint together during the showing of the film on Zoom. Registration is required at this link.
• April 23, all day — Day of Silence — Join us in spreading the message of the ‘Day of Silence’ by filling out an awareness card and posting it around campus. Cards can be picked up in Butler 105. More information is available at this link.
• April 24 at 1 p.m. — Virtual showcase of "Disclosure" — Featuring leading figures in the transgender community, the documentary takes a look at transgender depictions in film and television and their effects on anxieties about gender. Sponsored by LOFT & Student Engagement. Registration required at this link.

Events at Penn State Lehigh Valley

• April 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Essence of Democracy with Artist Linda Stein: "Addressing Sexuality and Averting the Gaze" — Stein will be joined by Penn State Lehigh Valley faculty member Samantha Beebe and student Allyshia Mohr. The talk will be moderated by Gallery Director Ann Lalik. Essence of Democracy is a series of conversations with artists whose work gives voice to those often unheard. The session is free and open to the public. Register at this link.
• April 13 at 12:15 p.m. — "Life is a Drag": Drag show and discussion — A collaborative event with Penn State Altoona, Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Mont Alto. The performers will both share their journey in drag, as well as tips and tricks they have learned through personal experience; and participants will learn about the history of drag, from Shakespeare’s days all the way to the ever-popular RuPaul of "RuPaul’s Drag Race." Campus community members should check their email for Zoom details.

Events at Penn State Mont Alto

• April 13 at 12:15 p.m. — "Life is a Drag": Drag show and discussion — A collaborative event with Penn State Altoona, Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Mont Alto. The performers will both share their journey in drag, as well as tips and tricks they have learned through personal experience; and participants will learn about the history of drag, from Shakespeare’s days all the way to the ever-popular RuPaul of "RuPaul’s Drag Race." Campus community members should check their email for Zoom details.

Events at Penn State New Kensington

• April 13 at noon — Lacey Roop-Poet, Performer, Ally, and Artist (Virtual) — Zoom link
• April 23 at noon — Student Ally Training (Virtual)

Events at Penn State Scranton

• April 1-30 — LGBTQA+ Shirts Giveaway-On Campus
• April 1–14 — Express your Pride Art Contest on Instagram: @psuscranton.lgbtqa
• April 14 at noon — LGBTQ Terminology (Virtual) — Zoom Link
• April 16 at noon — Pride Celebration (Virtual) — Zoom Link
• April 21 at 4:30 p.m. — Movie Night: "Call Me by Your Name" Hulu Watch Party

Events at Penn State Wilkes Barre

• April 6 at noon — TedTalk-n-Talk "50 Shades of Gay" (Virtual) — Zoom link
• April 14 at 6 p.m. — Pride Kahoot (Virtual) — Zoom link
• April 20 at noon — TedTalk-n-Talk "The Language of the Ballroom Culture" (Virtual) — Zoom link

Events at Penn State York

• April 27 at 12:15 p.m. — Book Discussion Via Zoom – “Symptoms of Being Human" by Jeff Garvin — Rainbow Paws,  a student club that supports equality and respect among all sexualities while providing a safe place to relax and be themselves, is sponsoring a book club and this is their first selection. Students can sign-up to receive the book free until April 9, read it on their own, and then attend the discussion group on April 27. The discussion will be led by IST junior Catie Noble, Rainbow Paws president.

Events at Pennsylvania College of Technology

• April 19 at 12:30 p.m. — Flag Raising Ceremony at Hager Lifelong Education Center Loop.
• April 22 at 2-6 p.m. — Art Auction — Bush Campus Center Lobby. Bid on hand-crafted items made by local talent. Proceeds from the auction benefit AIDS Resource.

The Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity staff continues to provide advocacy and support along with our colleague units in Student Affairs. Please note, individual consultations and meetings are occurring via zoom or by phone. Contact us Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. by calling 814-863-1248 or by e-mailing [email protected]. For resources that might be helpful wherever you might be located geographically right now, visit our resources website.