You may have noticed the colorful balloons and large crowds in the Student Memorial Center on Oct. 15 — it was PrideFest, an annual event with a goal of spreading inclusive values and representation to the campus community. It included a wide range of entertainment with little to no cost for Millersville University students.
Attendees were able to participate in activities such as face painting, balloon art, exploring various vendors, and browsing the Out of the Closet free thrift store — a donation-based new addition to the event. Tabling by Millersville and Lancaster organizations took place, including Embrace Lancaster, Lancaster Chooses Love, and others. An open mic hour went from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., where students could showcase others’ work or their own through a variety of art forms.
One of the biggest draws of PrideFest was the Monster Ball Drag Show, which featured queens Onyx Black, Kimmy Sumony, and Cupid Bowe. Stefani Steel, who hosted last year’s show, returned to host and perform. At previous PrideFests, the drag show has featured notable queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Shea Coulee, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, and DeJa Skye. Students could also attend a meet-and-greet and Drag Bingo after the show.
It’s imperative for our school to let its queer students know that they are supported and acknowledged. If you missed PrideFest, you can get involved with two campus organizations that serve as safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community — the Gender and Sexuality Alliance and the President’s Commission on Gender and Sexual Diversity. These groups have worked on hosting Pride events throughout the school year, including last year’s Lavender Legacy Walk and Trans Day of Visibility events. GSA’s biweekly meetings have included activities such as crafting, zine workshops, bingos, and more. You can follow them at @gsamillersville on Instagram, and PCGSD at @millersvillepcgsd.
