Pitt’s Rainbow Alliance celebrates Pride Week

Pride Week started with a few ducks and a lot of balls as members and friends of Pitt’s… Pride Week started with a few ducks and a lot of balls as members and friends of Pitt’s Rainbow Alliance held a dodgeball game in Bellefield Hall last night.

The dodgeball game was first in a series of events planned for Pitt’s Pride Week. The week is separate from the city-wide Pride Week, which will be held June 3-12 this year. The following is rundown of the rest of the week’s events, which are dedicated to understanding, education and acceptance of Pitt’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community:

Today

8:45 to 10:30 p.m. — Proud to be an Ally Speak Out!

5201 Posvar Hall

Allies tell their stories about why they are proud to support the LGBTQ community. Tricia Dougherty, Rainbow Alliance’s political action chair, said there will be a sign-up list for anyone who would like to speak out at the event. Attendees do not need to sign up to speak before the event.

Wednesday

8:45 to 10:30 p.m. — Speaker Dan Savage

121 David Lawrence

Dan Savage, known for his nationally syndicated sex column “Savage Love,” will speak about his “It Gets Better” video project, which is a response to a string of gay students’ suicides in the fall. Savage will answer students questions about taboo subjects and other matters.

Thursday

8:30 to 11 p.m. — Drag Show

Assembly Room, William Pitt Union

Pitt students and professional drag queens will perform for tips. Dylan Drobish and Dominique Dempsey Young will host the event under their show names, Dylan Dickhersoon and Dominique Da’Ho. Special guests Marsha Monster Mellow and Hot Metal Hardware will also perform. Proceeds will be donated to the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, said Drobish, who serves as vice president of Rainbow Alliance.

Friday

10 p.m. to 1 a.m. — Intercollegiate Pride Dance!

The Mansion, Mt. Washington

207 Bailey Ave, Pittsburgh PA

A number of collegiate gay-straight alliances in Pittsburgh will host a dance party. Students who RSVP in time may ride the party limo from campus. “There’s a hot tub available, which is nice,” Dougherty said. RSVP to rainbowofficeadmin@gmail.com by Wednesday.