Visions of Pride, Greensboro’s Urban LGBT Community group partnered with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s P.R.O.U.D and Multicultural Center, for Saturday’s PRIDE festival at Aggie Stadium.
The event, which was originally in the Holland Bowl, was moved to the stadium due to inclement weather.
Free HIV testing, food, and games were provided for families and friends to enjoy as well as educational opportunities regarding LGBT awareness, which was the main focus.
“It’s really about bridging the gap,” Gerald Spates, director of the multicultural student center. Spates wants to help improve diversity on campus, and wants to “make sure the LGBT community is respected, and the campus understands there is a presence.”
Last year’s Visions of Pride was in Center City Park downtown, sponsored by a grant from Guilford County Public Health Department and Moses Cone Hospital.
N.C. A&T’s fairly new LGBT organization P.R.O.U.D., (People Recognizing Our Underlying Differences), partnered with Visions of Pride providing the location along with A&T’s Multicultural Student Center. According to Secretary James Blackburn, P.R.O.U.D. is a “safe place,” serving as a special interest organization that is LGBT friendly and open for transgender students. The organization is pushing for N.C. A&T to implement transgender bathrooms on campus.
P.R.O.U.D. however is not only geared to students who identify within the LGBT community, but allies as well. “We are working on how to improve. We have the community but we are only as strong as our allies,” said Spates.
By 2015 the organization hopes to achieve their goal in having a resource center for students.
Spates and Ferreli McGilvary, both co-advisors of P.R.O.U.D were very proud of Saturday’s outcome. “AIDS or STD testing should be done at every event,” said Spates, who does not want those who do not identify with the LGBT community to think that sexually transmitted diseases are only limited to those within that community. Vendors who are involved with LGBTwere also in attendance. One of the purposes was to provide out-of-state students with resources that they can benefit from, one being N.C. A&T’s counseling services.
“We are there to provide support,” said Daniel Paredes a clinical counselor for counseling services. “When people are going through finding their sexual orientation identity we provide information and support.” Pamphlets regarding dating violence, and drug abuse were available to students. Counseling services also provides Safe Zone training for students and faculty to raise awareness and involvement in LGBT. “It’s all about making the campus more affirming,” said Paredes.
All who were in attendance was encouraged to tweet photos and post Instagram selfie’s using #visionsofpride and #notaphase to inform others that sexual identity is not a phase in which one goes through.
“Family field day,” said Lonnell Butler, a senior, professional theater student. Butler attended the festival with boyfriend Jquan Baxter. “I was there to enjoy a comfortable setting with people of like mind, body and soul.” Butler was one amongst many to get tested for HIV, and receive resources from the student health center.
According to McGilvary, this year was more kid friendly because a lot of LGBT members have kids. “I am so proud to be apart of this initiative for this campus,” said Spates.
Aliyah Benton contributed to research on this story.
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