What Does Pride Mean To You?
“That’s a really hard question,” said Salem, president of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance.
“Pride. I firmly believe that you should be able to be whoever you are no matter what. You should be able to be yourself and not be afraid to be out there. If you can be proud to be yourself and comfortable being yourself no matter where you are no matter who you’re with. That’s what pride means to me.”
On Wednesday evening Adelphi held its first ever Pride Parade organized and held by the dedicated members of GSA. The event started with performances from the cast of Hopper, a play set to debut in the PAC next month.
After handing out ribbons, about 50 students marched around Adelphi’s campus chanting jingles that promoted love and acceptance. Later in the event food was served and students started working on the origami swan project. Their goal is to collect 30,000 paper swans, representing the statistic that one in every 30,000 women identifies as a transwoman.
GSA is Adelphi’s first organization for its cause. It started when a few students felt like there was not enough awareness on campus of the LGBT community. Allie Klein, junior English major, founded the organization and served as their first president. She now holds the position of vice president.
In just a short amount of time, they were able to gain a tremendous amount of support.
“There’s people who have told us that they’re really grateful that we’re an organization,” said Salem. “I think it’s really important that we can do these sort of things.”
Deborah Little, Associate Professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, serves as the advisor for GSA.
“This new group, are really energized and really creative,” she said. “I am optimistic that we are becoming more inclusive and welcoming.”
GSA hopes to have this parade every year, making it bigger and better for the students.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining GSA, their meetings are Monday’s from 1-2 p.m. in the Campbell Lounge. You do not have to be a student to attend. GSA welcomes the LGBT community all over Long Island.
So ask yourself, what does pride mean to you?
“Being able to be authentic wherever I am whatever I’m doing. Feel good about my evolution. My coming into my own over many years, being able to finally get married two years ago after 23 years together and celebrate the union. Have it recognized in a different way. That means pride to me. Forming the LGBTQ and allies four years ago here at the university, the first of its kind. the response has been quite wonderful, and to know that I contributed to that. To know that there’s a wonderful group who’s engaged in the effort together from all over the university. also seeing the young people here today, the GSA being the moving force in putting together the first annual event. All of these things.” – Carol Sussal, committee, chairperson, and founder of LGBTQ and Allies for faculty staff and administration.
*Pictures taken by Michael Nicholas on behalf of the Office of Public Affairs.*