It’s Pride Week at Ferris, which is sure to turn a few heads and raise some eyebrows.
Pride Week is a week of activities dedicated to promoting tolerance and spreading awareness and education about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community at FSU.
Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance (DSAGA) is the RSO responsible for putting on all of the activities for Pride Week. Brittany Meissner, social chair for DSAGA and Ferris senior in radiography and healthcare systems, said everyone can learn something from participating in Pride Week.
“I hope it opens up people’s minds a little more,” Meissner said. “There is still negativity towards people who are ‘different.’ While we aren’t out to cure everyone’s homophobia, we just hope that our events can give them a different perspective on the topic. As far as individuals who are closeted, we hope that this might help them along with their coming out process.”
One pride week event includes “Live Homosexual Acts” on the quad where LGBT students play softball and cards, work on homework and rehearse for an upcoming performance. The point of this activity is to draw attention to the fact that many stereotypes about the LGBT community are incorrect; their daily activities are no different than the rest of the world’s.
Queer Monologues, another Pride Week event, was written by DSAGA members and covers topics such as being gay and Christian, coming out and unique sexual identity.
This Thursday, April 19, is the Day of Silence. Students will be in the quad participating from 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. by handing out information cards about the harmful effects of bullying those in the LGBT community.
Following the Day of Silence demonstration, there will be a drag show at 7 p.m. in the Dome Room. Audience members are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate; each canned good or non-perishable food item will allow the donator one vote for the best drag queen or king.
“Pride week is important for everyone, but I think it is more important for those not in DSAGA,” Meissner said. “We have a lot of fun putting this together, but this is our way to reach out to other students within the LGBT community. It is equally just as important for students who identify as straight, because allies are a very important part of our group.”