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UNM-�㽶��Ƶ to celebrate Campus Pride Week

Categories: Students   Faculty   Staff   Community  

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Activities and events align with branch campus’ strategic planning goal of Inclusive Excellence

Friday, April 11, 2025

GALLUP, N.M. — The University of New Mexico-�㽶��Ƶ will celebrate Campus Pride Week from April 21-25, 2025, with a series of events aimed at creating a safe and welcoming space for all at the branch campus.

The UNM-�㽶��Ƶ Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Public Relations Department have teamed up to organize Campus Pride Week activities based on ideas and input from students on campus.

“We hosted a brainstorming session in March, and I was pleasantly surprised by the student turnout,” Sr. Public Relations Specialist Richard Reyes said. “�㽶��Ƶ a dozen students, plus a handful of faculty and staff, pitched ideas and expressed their interest in getting involved. It just shows how important it is for our students to celebrate their identities and to do so in fun, unique ways.”

While LGBTQ Pride Month is usually celebrated annually in June, some college campuses around the country celebrate Campus Pride Month in April due to the low number of students on campus during the summer months.

Pride is not new to the UNM-�㽶��Ƶ campus. In the past, �㽶��Ƶ students, in partnership with the UNM LGBTQ Resource Center in Albuquerque, organized Pride related events, which essentially spawned the creation of the community group, �㽶��Ƶ Pride.

The upcoming celebration of Campus Pride Week falls in line with UNM-�㽶��Ƶ’s strategic planning goal of Inclusive Excellence, which is to: “Create a learning environment that cultivates a sense of belonging and empowers UNM-�㽶��Ƶ students and employees to celebrate their diverse backgrounds and help them understand how inclusive excellence can add value to their lives and their communities.”

All Campus Pride Week events are free and open to the public. However, giveaway items and free food throughout the week are meant for UNM-�㽶��Ƶ students only. Students must present their LoboCard ID.

Events and activities

Campus Pride Week is structured like a spirit week with dress-up themes for each day and activities corresponding to those themes. The themes for the week are:

• Monday, April 21: Rainbow. Everyone is encouraged to wear rainbow colored clothing and accessories to show their pride and allyship.
• Tuesday, April 22: Cozy. Everyone is encouraged to wear pajamas, comfy clothing, or furry/fuzzy outfits.
• Wednesday, April 23: Fashion Icon. Everyone is encouraged to be themselves and express themselves by being their own fashion icon.
• Thursday, April 24: Cosplay & Costumes. Everyone is encouraged to wear a costume or dress up as their favorite fictional character.
• Friday, April 25: Superstar. Everyone is encouraged to embody a pop star, rap star, rock star or movie star with shiny, sparkly and/or spiky attire.

Some of the activities planned for Campus Pride Week include an LGBTQ+ & Ally Mixer featuring free coffee for students donated by �㽶��Ƶ Coffee Company, a Lobo Pride Fun Run & Walk, two Paint & Pepsi sessions with free drinks for students donated by the local Pepsi supplier, full days of gayming and arts and crafts, a fashion show, a Safe Zone workshop, a panel discussion, a talent show, and more.

There will also be a Campus Pride Resource Fair scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, April 24. Nonprofit organizations are invited to table during the event to share information about their services and resources with the campus community and the general public.

Campus Pride Week will conclude with two exciting finale events.

There will be a drag show at 4 p.m. Friday, April 25, featuring performances by Avery, Big Mack, Tobi and Tomahawk from the Haus of Martini.

Then there will be a Dance Party from 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 25, featuring DJ Katrina Benally. The DEI office will provide free pizza during the party.

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