Eastern to celebrate Pride with events

Anne+Flaherty%2C+the+Vice+President+for+Student+Affairs%2C+twists+the+pride+flag+in+place+and+helps+Payton+Ade%2C+a+sophomore+interpersonal+communications+major%2C+and+Jaclyn+Thomas%2C+a+senior+interpersonal+communications+major%2C+to+raise+it+on+the+flag+pole+in+the+South+Quad+Friday+afternoon%2C+April+1%2C+2022+in+Charleston%2C+Ill.+

Ashanti Thomas

Anne Flaherty, the Vice President for Student Affairs, twists the pride flag in place and helps Payton Ade, a sophomore interpersonal communications major, and Jaclyn Thomas, a senior interpersonal communications major, to raise it on the flag pole in the South Quad Friday afternoon, April 1, 2022 in Charleston, Ill.

Adriana Hernandez-Santana, Campus Reporter

At Eastern, Pride month takes place in April due to the traditional Pride month being celebrated when most students are home for summer break.

To start off the month, the Progress Pride flag was raised on the campus flagpole last Friday to help kick off and celebrate Pride month. 

On Wednesday, there will be a Safe Zone training event. Safe Zone is a two-hour educational event on how to help make those in the LGBTQ+ community feel safe, welcomed and heard. 

Also on that day, the GSD Center will be hosting game night. Not only that, but they will also be teaching some meditation techniques over at the lower level of Stevenson Hall. This event will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. 

On Friday, there will be an Instagram campaign titled “Where do you feel pride?” 

Students are encouraged to post about where they feel prideful in their lives.

On April 12, the GSD Center is working alongside Eastern’s Health Education Resource Center to talk about safe sex. 

Safe Zone will return on April 14 to offer a second session. Use the QR code on the Pride month flyers to sign up. 

On April 15, there will be another Instagram campaign titled “Post your Pronouns.” Eastern students and faculty are encouraged to post their pronouns as a part of the campaign.

The Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Services, SACIS, are hosting an outdoor event on April 18 at noon at the Library Quad. Students are able to draw some pictures on the sidewalk with chalk and play some yard games.

April 22 will be a moment of silence. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Mellin Steps and Library Quad will be asking students to take a moment to remember those in the LGBTQ+ community who were silenced by harassment or bullying. 

To help break the silence, the GSD Center is hosting a fashion show starting at 6:30 p.m. on April 22. This will be held at the lower level of Stevenson Hall. 

On April 29, there will be one final Instagram campaign, asking students “What Does Pride Mean to You?”

And to close off Pride month, the LGBT club will be hosting a Second Chance Prom. Everyone is welcome to come to the Second Chance Prom. 

It will be from 7 p.m to 10 p.m at the University Ballroom in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

 

Adrianna Hernandez-Santana can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].