Celebrating UAA Pride all month long
by Jennifer Booz, Chief Diversity Officer |
![UAA student holds a rainbow flag during a festival at the Alaska Airlines Center plaza.](/_images/uaapridemonth22.jpg)
UAA is full of Pride and invites you to join in celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, non-binary, two-spirit and more (LGBTQIA2S+) communities. This month features entertaining and educational events and activities on campus, in the community and beyond!
June is national Pride Month, a month honoring the 1969 Stonewall Riots when patrons of a New York gay bar protested and fought for their right to gather peacefully. It recognizes the strength and resilience of LGBTQIA2S+ communities and raises awareness for equality. What began in the U.S. more than 50 years ago now spans the globe and welcomes millions of participants annually.
Pride itself refers to a celebration of LGBTQIA2S+, including the history, music, fashion, entertainment, culture and civil rights of these communities. You can learn more about the history of Pride movements on the History Channel website.
At UAA, we know diversity is key to excellence. It boosts our potential for innovation, educational excellence and outstanding service to our communities. We honor diverse experiences and perspectives — including differences in sex, gender identity and expression and sexual orientation — and strive to create welcoming and inclusive environments where everyone is treated with respect. We celebrate our community with pride everyday through...
- The student organization The Family and employee social groups.
- Pride and history month events in June and October.
- Preferred name/gender pronoun selection for faculty/staff/students.
- Gender neutral restrooms and student housing.
- And an LGBTQIA2S+ Advisory Committee.
There are so many ways to celebrate Pride. Visit Identity Alaska's website to find fun and meaningful ways to engage all month long. Highlights include:
- June 3: D Street Pride Block Party
- June 5: Pride Memorial Service
- June 14: Rainbow Run
- June 15: UAA Celebrates Pride: Sunshine & Sandwiches Walk
- June 22: Lavender Leaders Panel
- June 22: Anchorage PrideFest
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png)