The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Doyle Center for Gender and Sexuality is celebrating their first annual Pride Week April 11-15. They are hosting a series of events throughout the week to raise awareness and support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community on campus.

The scheduled events included a cookout kickoff on Monday at the Doyle Center with free lunch for students and faculty. Tuesday there was a movie showing of The Grand Budapest Hotel. Wednesday there was Safe Zone 2.0, a continuation of training for those that did Safe Zone. Each resident hall on campus sponsored their own events like movie or a trivia night as well. The Doyle Center’s last discussion series on LGBTQ+ mental health with a special focus on Trans health will be held Thursday at 3:30 p.m. On Friday everyone is being encouraged to wear rainbow colors to show support and post pictures on the Doyle Centers Facebook and Twitter pages.

Melissa Stoner, Doyle Center for Gender and Sexuality Coordinator, said the idea for Pride Week was a collaborative effort by the Doyle Center, members of the Alliance and allies of the UW-Platteville community.

“Madison had a coming out week and we thought we need to be doing something like that,” Stoner said.

It is important for students and faculty to know that Platteville is a safe and inclusive place. This University does support everyone and there are many resources available here, Stoner said.

Rosemary Carroll, President of the Alliance, said that Pride Week is all about acceptance for LGBTQ+ students on campus.

“When people are invested and involved with promoting acceptance of other people, it shows students that there is support and acceptance on campus and brings LGBT+ associated issues to students who would otherwise be unaware and possibly unaccepting,” Carroll said.

University Fellow, Clare Forstie said Pride Week encourages a campus-wide conversation about gender and sexuality. The LGBTQ+ community is still a huge target for discrimination.

“Pride Week acknowledges the ongoing need for support for LGBTQ+ people, and it offers opportunities for allies to learn more, step up, and support LGBTQ+ family, friends, and colleagues,” Forstie said.

Stoner said the Doyle Center has received a lot of support from campus including the Resident Hall Association and the Alliance with engaging in activities as well as promoting events to get as many people involved as possible.

Unfortunately, many of the posters for the event have been removed so not many people know about the events said Carroll.

“It is sad that Pride Week is overlapping with the current theft of LGBTQ+ associated signs,” Forstie said.

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