Reporter
Pride Week starts on Oct. 9 with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Kickoff and Resource Fair. On Oct. 10, there will be a Meet & Greet Mixer & Social. The Ally Rally will be on Oct. 11. Expression Nights follows on Oct. 12. Spend your Friday the 13th watching Disney’s “Hocus Pocus,” and finally enjoy a bonus event on Oct. 19, the Pride Volleyball Game.
The LGBTQ+ Kickoff and Resource Fair will take place on the red brick road from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Students can expect many organizations including the Gay & Lesbian Center of Bakersfield and possibly Planned Parenthood.
Cristian Flores, who is a senior English major at CSU Bakersfield and the program assistant at the Gay & Lesbian Center of Bakersfield, will also be at the Resource Fair and will be handing out pamphlets about their counseling services and event calendars.
“We have events at our center as well as our administrative offices that we host,” said Flores. Specific events include support groups, book clubs, game days, movie nights and karaoke nights.
The Meet & Greet Mixer & Social will be in the Stockdale Room from 2-4 p.m. This event will give people the opportunity to meet CSUB staff and faculty that are also part of the LGBTQ+ community. In an interview with the LGBTQ+ co-chair, Matthew McClellan said, “We are going to have games, snacks and fun. I think it is important to know that you have people to turn to.”
This is the eighth Annual Ally Rally currently led by Yvonne Ortiz-Bush, assistant professor in educational counseling. In previous years, the Annual Ally Rallies were panels led by Anne Duran, who discussed why the Ally Rally began, why it is important to the campus, and a Q&A segment with different members of the community.
This year, they are changing that so that the Ally Rally can be more interactive with the participants.
Expression Nights will be in the Stockdale Room at 7 p.m. All are welcome to come listen to the emotional “Coming Out Stories.”
“Hearing stories where students struggle with family and religious acceptance and seeing them working through their struggles, coming out and living their life is inspiring. Everybody has their own struggles and we cannot say someone struggles more than somebody else because we are not in their position, and we do not know what they are feeling,” McClellan said.
Movie Night will begin at 7 p.m. at Alumni Park. Watch Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” directed by Kenny Ortega, who is best known for directing “High School Musical” and “Descendants.”
“All events are free and open to anybody who wants to participate. I fully believe that we cannot argue for inclusivity if we are willing to exclude people from our own group. Everybody is welcomed just as long as nobody is hateful” said McClellan.
Bring blankets or chairs and snacks; however, popcorn will be provided. Invite your friends and spend Friday the 13th lighting the black flame candle and watching the Sanderson Sisters try to become immortal.
Ashlee Bowen, a sophomore psychology major said, “These events help bring people together. Gay people and straight people love Hocus Pocus!”
Giovana Melo is the director of volleyball and was interested in doing a Pride Volleyball Game. The game is a bonus event and begins at 7 p.m. in the Icardo Center. There will be jerseys made specially for the game.
“That is the whole point of pride. Come together, meet the community, and have a good time,” said McClellan.
The Rainbow Run 5k planned for Oct. 14 has unfortunately been canceled but will be rescheduled in the spring. For more information please email Matthew McClellan at [email protected].
