Wayne State University has issued a proclamation recognizing June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTIQA+) Pride Month in alignment with national recognitions by the U.S. Department of State.  

 “At the heart of Pride Month lies a message of inclusivity and empowerment, in alignment with Wayne State’s values,” said WSU President Kimberly Andrews Espy, Ph.D. “It is a time to embrace diversity, celebrate individuality, and reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where everyone can live authentically and without fear of discrimination.” 

Nationally recognized in June, Pride Month is a time dedicated to honoring the LGBTQIA+ community, promoting equality and fostering acceptance. It serves as an important reminder of the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQIA+ community throughout history. It also commemorates the Stonewall uprising of June 1969, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights that ignited a global movement toward equality and liberation. 

To encourage involvement with the wider campus community, Wayne State celebrated Pride Month in April before many Warriors left for the summer. Events included an open mic night and an employee and military service social hour, as well as a seed-starting event equipped with burgundy shamrock, dirt and starter containers.  

“We are thrilled to see President Espy’s proclamation of Pride Month, which is a meaningful recognition of our campus’s year-round Warrior Pride,” said Simone Chess, director of gender, sexuality and women’s studies and director of Wayne State’s Center for Gender and Sexuality.  

“This June, we are especially proud to be approaching the first anniversary of the WSU Board of Governors’ approval of the new WSU Center for Gender and Sexuality, a resource for research and community engagement. In our growing Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies program, we continue to expand offerings for our queer studies minor. From faculty research to classroom curriculum to student activities and events with our partners in the city of Detroit, Wayne State continues to invest in and show support for the LGBTQIA+ community.”  

Year-round campus resources include Wayne State’s Pride page, the Center for Gender and Sexuality (CGS), the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement, and the Dean of Students Office, as well as more than 20 LGBTQ-identity-based registered student organizations.  

“Creating a community for our LGBTQIA+ Warriors and uplifting that community will always be a priority,” said Chess.  

To honor this observance, Warriors on campus and beyond are encouraged to attend a variety of Pride events in Michigan throughout summer, including those where Wayne State will have a presence: 

• Community Pride events: CGS organized a Wayne State table at Ferndale Pride (June 1) and will also be at Motor City Pride (June 8 and 9).   

• Chamber of Commerce gala: Government and Community Affairs sponsors a WSU table at the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce COLOURS Pride Awards Gala (June 14). 

• Events related to Mighty Real/Queer Detroit:  

• Mighty Real/ Queer Detroit art exhibition (all month across Detroit).  

• The Elaine L. Jacob Gallery will host a monthlong exhibition, along with a special event for WSU alumni and friends, (June 14).  

• Assistant professor Marc Arthur is presenting a new community performance piece, Memories of a Supernatural AIDS Crisis, which will debut at the Hilberry Gateway (June 29). 

• Fundraiser for the Ruth Ellis Center: WSU will host its annual Stride 4 Pride event to benefit the Ruth Ellis Center (tentatively scheduled for June 28). 

“As we reflect on the progress we have made, the programs we have developed, and the work that lies ahead, Pride Month provides yet another opportunity for us to envision a world where everyone can live authentically and proudly,” said Provost Laurie Lauzon Clabo.   

Learn more about Wayne State proclamations.  

By Katheryn Kutil