Pride Month, which is usually held in June, starts April 1 here at the University of Kansas \u2014 the reason being that many students aren\u2019t on campus for the summer. Now as a non-binary, panromantic, and ace-spectrum student, I love Pride! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it\u2019s my freshman year, and experiencing Gaypril for the first time (in a global pandemic) is that much more exciting. I grew up not celebrating Pride at all until I got to attend once in my junior year of high school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year\u2019s Pride month in July was spent behind closed doors. This was a big blow for the KCMO Pride Fest, which had just moved to Ilus Davis Park and City Hall. Kansas City hasn\u2019t had a Pride Parade since 2002 (consequently, the year I was born) because its cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawrence has a developing story. As recently as 2018, the Granada started holding what\u2019s known as Pride for the Masses. There was a small parade, and then the Granada invited queer artists to perform. Of course, its third year was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I won\u2019t speak for all queer people, but for me, Pride is important because it\u2019s an outward expression of my identity that I don\u2019t always get to have everywhere else. If I hold hands with a girl in public, I get the occasional catcalls from men who fetishize queer couples. Or I get a grumpy adult calling me \u201cobscene\u201d or \u201cscandalous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pride is a time for LGBTQ+ people to be surrounded by other people who share their identities, or who are allies for them. It\u2019s a safe place. It\u2019s a freeing place. So the impact of the pandemic has not only been stifling socially but also in terms of identity validation. That\u2019s why KU\u2019s Gaypril is such a reprieve for me \u2014 I get to celebrate my identity with other people my age, with my identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity (aka the Center) has a full lineup of Gaypril events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Center had a drive-in showing of \u201cParis Is Burning\u201d on April 10 in the Lied Center parking lot. The film explicates the history of Voguing and of trans pride. These topics, in particular, are so important, especially now that we\u2019ve had limited interactions with LGBTQ+ Pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Big Gay Brunch will be today, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with offerings for vegans (like me!), vegetarians, and those who require gluten-free options. I don\u2019t know if there\u2019s anything straighter than brunch, so personally, this is a fantastic idea. We\u2019re here, we\u2019re queer, and we eat brunch! In all seriousness though, food is one of the most common ways we as humans connect socially, so I truly can\u2019t wait for this event.<\/p>\n\n\n
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