Honors Program Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) President Lucas Sherman collaborated with several CMU registered student organizations (RSOs) to create the month-long pride celebration.

“It’ll be great to be on campus and participating in pride events after not being able to do so from covid restrictions the last few years,” Sherman said. “The Honors GSA would love people to come to as many events as they can to show support for the LGBT community on campus.”

To kick off the month, John Casey, a columnist for the largest LBGTQ news site in the U.S., The Advocate, will discuss his experience covering social, political and cultural issues and current events that affect the LGBT community.

The event starts at 7 p.m. April 4 in Anspach Hall 161; an introduction of the RSOs involved in Pride Month will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The Office of LGBTQ Services is hosting the second event, called Pidgeon Pagonis: First Do No Harm: We Need to Talk About Intersex. It will take place at 7 p.m. on April 5 in the Bovee University Center Auditorium.

A Faith Panel, including panelists from four local churches – three Christian and one Unitarian Universalist – will speak on supporting the LGBT community and dealing with conflicts of religion and sexuality. The panel is from 7 – 9 p.m. on April 6 in the French Auditorium. It is hosted by the Honors’ Program Gender and Sexuality Alliance.

Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM) is hosting a “Gayme night” from 2:30–5 p.m. on April 9. The event is geared toward building awareness of the RSO and recruiting mathematics students.

“oSTEM has seen a real struggle in reaching out to students to become members, particularly in the mathematics field,” Nova Moore, oSTEM executive board member, said. “While we enjoy our members from the physical and computer sciences, we want to branch out to students from other STEM fields.”

To do so, the event is split into two sections. The first half will include a competitive speed chess tournament.

“We know many people in mathematics enjoy chess as a hobby and we want to encourage them to come out to participate in this tournament,” Moore said.

The tournament requires a $5 minimum donation fee to participate. First, second and third place will win 15 percent, nine percent and six percent of the funds raised, respectively. oSTEM will donate the remaining proceeds to Great Lakes Bay Pride.

During the second half of the event, participants can choose a game to play from a list of donations including NASA game, Bangaram’s, Cards Against Humanity and other popular games, Moore said.

“We want anyone who loves games to come out and enjoy the community of LGBTQ individuals and learn about oSTEM’s mission on campus,” Moore said.

Everyone is invited to donate games or sign up to judge the tournament by adding their name to oSTEM’s spreadsheet. The organization is hoping to raise enough money to supply food at the event and asks that people donate to its PayPal.

A sexual health event hosted by Eta Sigma Gamma and Planned Parenthood Generation Act, will take place at 8 p.m. April 12 in Health Professions 1259.

A discussion about supporting trans and non-binary students, faculty, and staff will be held virtually at 12 p.m. on April 13.

The Organization of Women Leaders (OWLS) is hosting the Pridepalooza Lip Sync Extravaganza event at 7 p.m. on April 14 in the French Auditorium. All proceeds raised from the event's bake sale will be donated to the Grand Rapids Pride Center.

Students can sign up to perform on OWLs link tree.

The Cookies and Clothing, A Gender Affirming Clothing Swap will be open all day April 20 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Pride Prom, hosted by Spectrum, will start at 6 p.m. on April 30 in the University Center Rotunda. The free event will include food, music and dancing.

"It's a chance to dress up with your friends and have a prom experience that is, unfortunately, not available for the Queer people in high school, and if it is, they cannot enjoy it as their most authentic self," Spectrum vice president Aidan Koelzer said.

This year's theme, "Queer History", with a tribute to queer trailblazers, will be reflected in the decorations and advertisements of the event.

"We are working on posters that show off queer history, including events like Stonewall and icons like Marsha P. Johnson," Koelzer said. "We at Spectrum have put so much work and so much love into this event and we are so excited for everyone to enjoy it, especially after so many people have shown their interest in attending."

See below for a full list of events: