Kenyon is proud to host a Pride Weekend Celebration for alumni and prospective and current students.
The Gay and Lesbian Alumni Association (GALA) along with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) welcome the Kenyon GLBTQIA alumni community to the Hill for festivities from Oct. 9-11, followed by the first GLBTQIA prospective student weekend Oct. 11-12.
“All of the events are open to everyone,” said Madi Thompson ’16, a psychology major with a neuroscience concentration who has been active in planning the weekend. “It will definitely draw together the alumni and current students and prospective students, usually three very separate groups.”
Events include a panel discussion about the history of GLBTQIA at Kenyon with College Historian Tom Stamp ’73 and other alumni, a presentation on marriage equality in America led by Tom Karako, the director of the Center for the Study of American Democracy, and an all-campus dance party with disc jockey Brendan Sullivan ’04, Lady Gaga’s former official DJ.
In addition, on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 9 p.m. in Rosse Hall, the College will host an all-campus event called Everyone is Gay, featuring a discussion with GLBTQIA rights advocate and humorist Kristin Russo.
Student groups including Athletes for Equality, ALSO, GABLES, Queer Women’s Collective, Queer Men’s Society and the Unity House, the dedication of which was the focus of the last Pride Weekend at Kenyon in 2003, will all participate in the weekend’s activities.
“Issues of gender and sexuality are so important and so in the mainstream right now,” said Thompson, from Florissant, Missouri. “This is a place you can be completely comfortable. We want to show it in an explicit way.”
Registration is open online until Monday, Sept. 28, for alumni and for prospective students. Current students do not need to register.
10 a.m. History of GLBTQIA at Kenyon with Kenyon Historian Tom Stamp '73 Community Foundation Theater, Gund Gallery
1 p.m. Reading and book signing, Brendan J. Sullivan '04, Rivington Was Ours: Lady Gaga, the Lower East Side, and the Prime of Our Lives Kenyon College Bookstore
2 p.m. CSAD presents Jonathan Adler, Obergefell v. Hodges: Same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court Brandi Recital Hall, Storer Hall
4 p.m. Being out in the workplace – an alumni career panel Brandi Recital Hall, Storer Hall
9 p.m. All-campus dance party with D.J. Brendan J. Sullivan '04 Gund Commons Ballroom
Pride Weekend prospective student events being held throughout the day
4 p.m. What's next for GLBTQIA at Kenyon Brandi Recital Hall
7 p.m. Prospective student GLBTQIA discussion Crozier Center
9 p.m. Performance: "Everyone is Gay" all-campus event. In this funny, rousing, thought-provoking discussion, GLBTQ rights advocates and humorist Kristin Russo creates a safe and welcoming environment where she can stimulate a broader dialogue among the entire community, not just lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning persons — all while keeping a smile on everyone's face. Rosse Hall