Celebrating Pride Month
Dear DU community members,
During the month of June, the University of Denver celebrates Pride Month and the amazing contributions of LGBTQ+ people to our community and society. During this time of celebration, we also acknowledge the history of discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community and the activists that continue to demand equity for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Pride Month was first celebrated in the 1970s during what is considered the inception of the modern ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, and more’ (LGBTQIA2+) movement. Inspired by the passionate and transformative June 1969 Stonewall Riots, Pride Month has grown and evolved significantly over the past 50 years. Intersecting identities have become a fundamental part of the modern LGBTQ+ movement, ensuring other social justice issues and salient identities are not left behind.
The voices of many LGBTQ+ community members have shaped our world for the better. The research of Dr. Alan L. Hart, a physician, tuberculosis (TB) researcher, radiologist, author and trans man led to the use of x-ray photography to detect TB, saving thousands of lives. The late Larry Kramer, a political activist among many other roles, advocated for and led public health policy changes to raise awareness and acceptance of people living with HIV and AIDS. Member of the LGBTQ+ community Kim Wong is the chief operating officer at Reddit and has held top-level executive positions at Time, PopSugar, and AOL. Football player Michael Sam is the first publicly gay player drafted to the National Football League. And finally, we recognize DU alumnae Brianna Titone, representative for house district 48 and the first openly transgender state legislator elected in Colorado. These members of the LGBTQ+ truly represent the meaning of Pride. Their efforts and those of countless others in the face of opposition have moved our world forward.
Celebrate Pride with the DU Community
This June, we encourage the DU community to reflect on and celebrate the triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community—the historical progress toward equity as well as profound accomplishments and contributions.
#DUProud Fest
Join DU as we commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots through a series of events at our 2021 #DUPROUD Fest on Thursday, June 24, organized by the Cultural Center and LGBTQ+ organizations across campus.
Celebrating Pride: Centering the LGBTQ+ Student Experience at DU
Curious about how to better serve LGBTQ+ students at DU? Student, staff and faculty have great power in shaping the experience for LGBTQ+ folks on college campuses. Hear from current and former students about their personal journey and how we all can make a positive impact for this student community at this C+V panel.
Thursday, June 24 | 11:00 am-12:00 pm | Zoom | Register here
Ice Cream Social & Community Fair
Join DU LGBTQ+ organizations and campus partners for community, Pride giveaways and ice cream (non-dairy options available)!
Thursday, June 24 | 1:00pm-2:00pm | Campus Green behind the Community Commons
3rd Annual “PRIDE on the Patio”
This annual LGBTQ+ and allies community social is one of the best parts of summer at DU. This year, in addition to live music, we will be playing drag bingo for fun summer prizes.
Thursday, June 24 | 4:00 pm-6:00 pm | 4th Story, Community Commons
In the fight for equity, the ability of LGBTQ+ individuals to live openly and free from discrimination and violence is central. We move closer to making a better and more just world when people from a wide variety of intersecting identities, including those identifying in our LGBTQIA+ community, are supported and thriving in their full humanity. During Pride Month, we reaffirm our commitment to, support of, and gratitude to the LGBTQ+ community.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Haefner, chancellor
Mary Clark, provost and executive vice chancellor
Todd Adams, vice chancellor of student affairs
Leslie Brunelli, senior vice chancellor for business and financial affairs
Paul Chan, vice chancellor for legal affairs and general counsel
Frédérique Chevillot (Sister Fred), liaison, Queer Faculty Association
Vivek Choudhury, dean, Daniels College of Business
Karlton Creech, vice chancellor for athletics, recreation and Ritchie Center operations
Madison Dorman, co-chair, Queer University Employees
Andrei Kutateladze, dean, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Michael Levine-Clark, dean, University Libraries
Jerron Lowe, interim vice chancellor for human resources and inclusive community
Fritz Mayer, dean, Josef Korbel School of International Studies
Amanda McBride, dean, Graduate School of Social Work
Michael McGuire, dean, University College
Daniel McIntosh, dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Renea Morris, vice chancellor for marketing and communications
Nancy Nicely, senior vice chancellor and chief of staff
Stephanie O’Malley, associate vice chancellor for government and community relations
Cody Ortiz-Oldham, assistant director of gender and sexuality, Cultural Center
Valerie Otten, vice chancellor for university advancement
Jasmine Pulce, co-chair, Queer University Employees
Todd Rinehart, vice chancellor for enrollment
Michelle Sabick, dean, Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
Bruce Smith, dean, Sturm College of Law
Shelly Smith-Acuña, dean, Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Gary Starling, interim vice chancellor and chief information technology officer
Bruce Uhrmacher, interim dean, Morgridge College of Education
Christopher Whitt, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion
Celebrating Pride: Centering the LGBTQ+ Student Experience at DU
Join us for a Heritage Months initiative in partnership with C+V
Curious about how to better serve LGBTQ+ students at DU? Student, staff and faculty have great power in shaping the experience for LGBTQ+ folks on college campuses. Hear from current and former students about their personal journey and how we all can make a positive impact for this student community at this C+V panel.
Thursday, June 24 | 11:00 am-12:00 pm | Zoom
Visit the Heritage Months Website
The University of Denver is committed to living our values of diversity and inclusion. Our community and institutional success is dependent on how well we engage and embrace the rich diversity of our faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni.
With that shared value in mind and in partnership with Human Resources & Inclusive Community (HRIC), the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), The Cultural Center, and the Staff of Color Association (SOCA), we will celebrate the identities and histories of members of the DU and world communities. Each month we will feature a staff or faculty member and a student in recognition of each heritage month, along with an event to honor one another and learn about our unique differences.
Propose a Program or Highlight a DU Community Member for Heritage Months
The University of Denver is committed to living our values of diversity and inclusion. We recognize that our community and institutional success is dependent on how well we engage and embrace the rich diversity of our faculty, staff, administrators, students, and alumni. With that shared value in mind, throughout this academic year, we plan to publish a series of articles to celebrate cultural and ethnic heritage months. In partnership with Human Resources & Inclusive Community (HRIC), the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), The Cultural Center, Community + Values (C+V), and the Staff of Color Association (SOCA), we will feature a staff or faculty member and a student in recognition of each heritage month, along with an event to honor one another and learn about our unique differences.
Also, if you are aware of any events that are happening on campus or have an idea for Heritage Month events, we'd love to hear about them and promote them campus-wide.