For Pride Month 2024, the Kent State University Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Center is working on promoting Pride on campus, in the community and statewide.
“Since there aren’t as many people on campus during summer break, we are mainly focusing on promoting the Buckeye Flame’s Pride Guide,” said Ken Ditlevson, director of Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Center. “The guide features Pride events, local and throughout Ohio, and we’re promoting it on our listserv emails and in our social media posts.”
Boosting Pride in the Community
Ditlevson and his staff are also working to coordinate and plan Pride events in the community. “We’re focusing energy and resources on Akron’s Pride Celebration on Aug. 24,” said Ditlevson. “We will have a shuttle to take Kent State students to and from the event starting at the bus stop at the Kent Student Center.” Registration for the shuttle ride will be required and the links to register will be posted soon on the LGBTQ+ Center’s web pages and social media.
A group representing Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Center will be marching in Akron Pride’s Equality March and the center is working to recruit students, faculty, staff and alumni to participate in the march that morning.
The center also is working with Main Street Kent to plan the fourth annual Kent Rainbow Weekend, scheduled for Oct. 11-12 as part of the celebration of October as LGBTQ+ History Month.
Striding with Pride
Each Tuesday, from May 21 through Aug. 6, Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Center is hosting a LGBTQ+ Walking Group from 12-1 p.m. on the Deweese Health Center Walking Track. It’s an opportunity for members of Kent’s LGBTQ+ community to walk, talk and get to know one another.
Planning for the summer and beyond
Kent State Pride continues through the summer and the coming Fall Semester with a full schedule of fabulous activities detailed in the center’s “Gay Agenda.”
