LGBTQ+ Resources Center

George Mason Pride Week

Pride Week 2026 is 4-18 April : Events Below!

History

The June 1969 “Stonewall Rebellion” against police – led by mostly young working class, youth of color, Puerto Rican and Black drag queens – at the Stonewall bar on New York City’s Christopher Street, is often thought of as marking the beginning of modern gay liberation in the U.S. In the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, police had extorted money from the owners of nightclubs that served gay folks. They often raided the clubs to demonstrate their muscle, arresting the patrons, publishing their names, and sometimes beating or raping them in custody. For the first time ever, instead of passively accepting the police brutality, the patrons fought back.

A year later, activists in other cities were thinking of ways to make the anniversary. During the 1970s various groups began to observe Pride Day, on weekends in June. Today, the holiday is celebrated as the anniversary of the modern movement for the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

In our Northern Virginia and DC area, pride celebrations include Youth Pride, Black Pride, Leather Pride, the Dyke March, and Capital Pride.

University campuses vary widely in whether, how, and when they organize LGBT Pride observances. Here at George Mason, Pride Week takes place in late March / early April (close to the end of the Spring semester, but prior to June when many students are off-campus for the summer). Our programs include our regular Lambda Awards Ceremony honoring queer and allied student leaders across campus, our Pride Week Big Event that varies every year, and many partner programs.

2026 Pride Week Event Calendar

DateEvent NameEvent TimeEvent LocationSponsoring Orgs/UnitsRegistration (if applicable)
Friday, April 3rdCHR Book Launch: “I Will Not Abandon You: Queer Women in Nazi Germany” by Samuel Clowes Huneke12:30pm-2:00pmHorizon Hall 6325 and ZoomCenter for Humanities ResearchRegister Here
Tuesday, April 7thoSTEM Interest Meeting3:30pm-5:00pmRegister on Mason360 for LocationLGBTQ+ Resources CenterRegister Here
Wednesday, April 8thPride Week Grad Student Pizza Party12:00pm-1:00pmRegister on Mason360 for LocationLGBTQ+ Resources CenterRegister Here
Wednesday, April 8thLambda Awards6:00pm-7:30pmRegister on Mason360 for LocationLGBTQ+ Resources CenterRegister Here
Thursday, April 9thQT Autism Diagnosis Q&A11am-1pmRegister on Mason360 for LocationLGBTQ+ Resources CenterRegister Here
Thursday, April 9thQTBIPOC x ATQ Collab: QTBIPOC Art Around the World5:30pm-7:00pmRegister on Mason360 for LocationLGBTQ+ Resources CenterRegister Here
Friday, April 10thAffirmation Station and Trivia2:00pm-4:00pmEnterprise HallCounseling and Psychological Services, Costello College of BusinessNo Registration Required
Friday, April 10thPride Game (NCAA Men’s Volleyball vs. Harvard)5:45pm-8:00pmRAC GymGeorge Mason Athletics, LGBTQ+ Resources CenterNo Registration Required
Wednesday, April 15thBoundaries and Healthy Relationships Workshop11:30am-1:00pmRegister on Mason360 for LocationStudent Support and Advocacy CenterRegister Here
Wednesday, April 15thAll Together Queer5:00pm-7:00pmRegister on Mason360 for LocationLGBTQ+ Resources CenterRegister Here
Thursday, April 16thReal Talk: LGBTQIA+ Authenticity in the Workplace4:00am-5:00pmZoomLGBTQ+ Resources Center, University Career ServicesRegister Here
Friday, April 17thOSSE Talks: Restoring Balance – Lessons from Native Community Practice for Engineering and Public Health12:00pm-1:00pmNguyen Engineering Building, Room 2901Office of Outreach, Student Success, & Outreach- College of Engineering & Computing, Nguyen Engineering Building, Room 2901Register Here
Friday, April 17thPride Week Big Event: Two-Spirit Storytelling & Performances7:00pm-9:00pmRegister on Mason 360 for LocationLGBTQ+ Resources Center, Two-Spirit & Native LGBTQ+ Center for Equity, Office of Outreach, Student Success & Engagement (OSSE)- College of Engineering & Computing (CEC), Native American and Indigenous Alliance (NAIA)Register Here