This upcoming week, St. Lawrence is celebrating LGBTQ PRIDE, hosted by Spectrum. The advocacy and social justice group, Spectrum, whose mission is to facilitate a stronger LGBTQ community on St. Lawrence’s Campus, works towards creating a safe, inclusive, and informed campus for all people.
This group provides space for people to share their views, ask questions, and find resources. Spectrum is a place for all people regardless of age, class, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion or spirituality. The week will kick off with the SUNY Potsdam Pride Parade on Saturday at 10 am.
Monday will include chalk art with the Artist Guild at the Student Center and Queer Trivia at Pub56 will be on Tuesday. Special guest Robyn Ochs will also speak in the Winston Room at 7 p.m. Robyn is an educator, speaker, grassroots activist, and editor of Bi Women Quarterly and two anthologies: the 42-country collection, Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World, and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men.
Thursday will include two drag shows at 7:30 p.m and 9 p.m. And, to wrap up the week, there will be a dance party at the Java Barn on Friday.
Emily Casey-Wagemaker ’19 says, “I am really excited about this year’s Pride Week, especially given that it will be mine and Colin’s last. Colin and I were both here when the two clubs decided to merge our first year and become Spectrum.” Casey-Wagemaker explains, “I feel so privileged to be a part of what makes Pride Week happen and to be a part of the beginning of a really significant student group on campus.
This week will be really fun, but also very emotional, at least for me, since it really is the culmination of all the hard work we have been doing with this group since our first year here at SLU.”
“Somewhat echoing Emily, I think Pride Week is amazing because it truly is one week on campus where Queer students, including myself, are able to express themselves fully,” reflects Colin Crosby ‘19. “There’s nothing quite like seeing the Pride Flag wave or seeing students come to all of our events and support LGBTQ+ people!
It’s an honor and privilege being able to provide these events for the community and help set up one of my favorite weeks on campus. Also, it could not be done without the help of all of our club members as well as our Treasurer, Liesl Magnus ‘20 and her tremendous efforts in helping us plan everything and get the week together,” explains Crosby.