Pride Week 2023
March 25th-April 8th, 2023
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 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 activities include speakers and performers, panel discussions, dances, poetry readings/open mic events, and our annual Drag Show.
2023 Pride Week Event Calendar
Date | Event Name | Event Time | Event Location | Sponsoring Orgs/Units | Registration (if applicable) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday, March 27th | Makeup Monday (Facial Feminization) | 12:00pm-1:00pm | SUB I 2200 (LGBTQ+ Resources Center) | LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Tuesday, March 28th | Queer Book Club: Gender Queer (virtual edition) | 2:00pm-3:00pm | Zoom | LGBTQ+ Resources Center, Queer Studies Reading Group | Register Here |
Tuesday, March 28th | Taking Space: Student Perspectives on Self Advocacy | 3:00pm-4:30pm | Merten 1202 | Women and Gender Studies | Register Here |
Tuesday, March 28th | Study Hall | 6:00pm-8:00pm | SUB I 2400 (UL DEI suite) | LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Wednesday, March 29th | Queer Book Club: Gender Queer (in person edition) | 2:30pm-4:00pm | Fenwick 1014A and 1014B | LGBTQ+ Resources Center, GSL | Register Here |
Wednesday, March 29th | School of Business LGBTQ+ Student Social | 3:00pm-4:30pm | JC George's | School of Business Office of Student Success and Academic Services | Register Here |
Wednesday, March 29th | Tips for LGBTQ+ Travelers Abroad Session: Virtual | 6:00pm-7:00pm | Zoom | Global Education Office, LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Wednesday, March 29th | Queer & Disabled Identity Night | 6:00pm-8:00pm | SUB I 2200 (LGBTQ+ Resources Center) | LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Thursday, March 30th | Women's History Month Scavenger Hunt | 11:30am-3:30pm | Wilken's Plaza | Women and Gender Studies | Register Here |
Thursday, March 30th | LGBTQ+ Travelers Abroad Session: In Person | 5:00pm-6:00pm | JC 235 (GEO Office) | Global Education Office, LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Thursday, March 30th | QSLC Presents Pride Week Party | 7:00pm-10:00pm | Corner Pocket (The Hub) | Queer Student Leadership Council (QSLC), LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Saturday, April 1st | Gender Marker and Name Change Clinic | 1:00PM-4:00PM | JC Rooms C, D, E, F, & G | OUTLAW, VEBA, LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Saturday, April 1st | Trans Health Workshop | 2:00PM-6:00PM | JC Room B | Student Health Services, (SHS), LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Monday, April 3rd | QT BIPOC Pride Week Social | 5:00pm-7:00pm | JC George's | LGBTQ+ Resources Center, African and African American Studies (AAAS), Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) | Register Here |
Tuesday, April 4th | Intersectionality 101 Training | 4:30pm-7:00pm | Zoom | Women and Gender Studies | Register Here |
Tuesday, April 4th | Study Hall | 6:00pm-8:00pm | SUB 1 2200 (LGBTQ+ Resources Center) | LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Wednesday, April 5th | National Public Health Week Sexual & Reproductive Health | 12:00pm-2:00pm | TBA | College of Public Health, Student Health Services | Coming Soon |
Wednesday, April 5th | Aromantic & Asexual Identity Night | 6:00pm-8:00pm | SUB I 2200 (LGBTQ+ Resources Center) | LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Thursday, April 6th | HIV Testing Event | 10:00am-2:00pm | HUB Ballroom | Student Health Services, INOVA Juniper, LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Coming Soon |
Thursday, April 6th | CAPS Chat | 4:30pm-5:30pm | SUB 1, 2400 (CCEE MPR) | Counseling and Psychological Services | Register Here |
Thursday, April 6th | Movie Night | 5:30pm-8:00pm | SUB I 2200 (LGBTQ+ Resources Center) | LGBTQ+ Resources Center | Register Here |
Friday, April 7th | LGBTQ+ Zine Workshop + Reading Room | 5:00pm-6:30pm | Art+Design Building Prinmaking Studion 1009 | CVPA Diversity Office, School of Art | Register Here |
Friday, April 7th | QTPOC Trivia Night | 6:30pm-8:30pm | Merten 1201 | LGBTQ+ Resources Center, Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE), and Housing and Residence Life | Register Here |
Saturday, April 8th | Mason Pride Game (Track & Field) | 12:00pm | George Mason Stadium | Mason Athletics, LGBTQ+ Resources Center | No registration needed! First 250 students get a free t-shirt! |
Saturday, April 8th | Pride Week Drag Show | 8:00pm-10:30pm | JC Atrium (and streaming) | LGBTQ+ Resources Center, Patriot Activities Council (PAC), ARISE Campus Ministry, Women and Gender Studies, College of Engineering and Computing | Register Here |