Story by Bridgette McAuliffe, Staff writer

Photo by Nora Crafton/The News

The Murray State Alliance and LGBT Programming Office helped students on campus celebrate Pride this Week with a variety of events.

MC Lampe, coordinator of LGBT programming, was in charge of organizing the week’s events, including the kick-off party on Oct. 11. The event was the first of its kind: a ‘Pride Prom.’

“The turnout was great,” Lampe said. “We danced, we had food and we’re probably going to do it again next year.”

On Monday, Oct. 15, the office hosted two events: a Using Your Story for Change workshop and an LGBT movie night where it showed the film ‘Paris is Burning.’

“We’re showing students how they can use their own personal stories to effect change, which is something I personally have a passion for,” Lampe said. “I’ve used my story to lobby for LGBT legislation on the Kentucky state level and it’s been a really good experience. I’m trying to share that with more people and effect change on
campus.”

Lampe said sharing your story is the best way to humanize those in the LGBT community to people who may not have exposure. She used her story to lobby for LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying laws.

“Knowing someone who is LGBT or knowing their journey has helped put a face to these alphabet soups of identities that we sometimes get confused by,” Lampe said.

Jordan Kinnett, senior from Monticello, Kentucky, has been more involved the past two semesters as she said it became apparent that the LGBT coordinator had interests in pursuing the same goals she was
passionate about.

“I was interested in spreading and raising awareness for resources for those who need it, particularly with transgender kids,” Kinnett said.

The movie shown at the event, “Paris is Burning,” is a documentary about “Ball Culture,” popularized by RuPaul Charles, and what Kinnett said is a significant portion of LGBT history.

“We have a generational gap from the AIDS crisis, and we’re still struggling with that loss because now people our age don’t have those mentor figures,” Kinnett said. “I think these events are important because college is the first time students will be able to express their identity and learn more about it.”

Holden East, senior from Louisville, Kentucky, and the vice president of Alliance, joined because he wanted to give back to the community.

“This is a community of people who have really varied experiences in life,” East said. “Sometimes they can be like me and be very fortunate, but sometimes they can’t. I want to be in a position to help people and to be more involved.”

Lampe said Pride Week is just a short celebration of the large LGBT community we have on Murray State’s campus.

“The biggest thing you can do is educate yourself,” Lampe said. “It could be Googling words you don’t know or going to an Alliance event, but it’s the biggest thing you can do to show support for the LGBT community on campus.”

The celebration continued on Tuesday, Oct. 16, with “Queer Games,” hosted by Alliance, in the Women’s Center lounge at the Oakley Applied Science Building.

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, a panel discussion about LGBTQ and healthy relationships and ‘Queer Karaoke’ took place in the Blackburn Science Building.

Today, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m. there will be the LGBTQ and inclusive sex ed discussion at Blackburn Science Building Room 248.

Pride Week will end at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, with a snacks and crafts hangout at Blackburn Science Building Room 248.