“The thing I love about the weekend is that it shows our community that there is support not only at this university, but in many other places, too,” said Ken Ditlevson, director of Kent State University's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer+ Center (LGBTQ+).
Ditlevson told Kent State Today that this fourth annual community event is presented by the LGBTQ+ Center and Main Street Kent. Rainbow Weekend takes place in October, as part of LGBTQ+ History Month, rather than during June’s Pride Month so that Kent State students can participate in its events.
Also, Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day and the LGBTQ+ Center is hosting a party for the unveiling of this year’s “Flashes of Pride” poster, which features members of Kent State’s LGBTQ+ community and allies.
Kindness, Respect, Purpose – and Fun!
The event is an exceptional reflection of the university’s stated values and underscores the strong town-gown relationship between Kent State and the city of Kent. The Rainbow Weekend planning committee worked to create an even bigger and better event, with exceptional participation and sponsorship from businesses and organizations throughout Kent, featuring activities, entertainment, shopping and more.
The week’s celebration began with the decoration of the Main Street Bridge in downtown Kent on Monday. Visit Main Street Kent’s event page for a complete listing of the weekend’s events. Some highlights include:
Acorn Alley Rainbow Market – Friday, 2–8 p.m.
This beloved, eclectic downtown shopping area will feature an exciting mix of items for purchase from LGBTQ+-supporting vendors and merchants.
Drag Race 5K – Friday, 6 p.m.
“Hate is such a drag” is this year’s theme for a fundraising event that is vital to Kent State students. Participants are invited to show their pride as they support Kent State’s LGBTQ Emergency Fund as they walk stroll or roll their way along the new route that begins at the Portage County Hike and Bike Trail and ends at North Water Brewing Company.
Quilt Raffle – All weekend, drawing on Oct. 14
All weekend, Popped! Caramel Popcorn and Handmade Chocolates will be selling raffle tickets to win a handmade rainbow quilt. All proceeds will support the LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund.
Safe Space Ally Training at the Kent Free Library, led by Ken Ditlevson – Saturday, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Attendees will learn about bias, stereotypes, current vocabulary and best practices for handling gender and sexuality topics with sensitivity. After the training, individuals are offered a Safe Space Ally sign for their home or office, indicating their support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Rainbow Revival Market – Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Shoppers can support small business at this pop-up event sponsored by Branded in Kent. Selections will include vintage clothing, handmade jewelry and one-of-a-kind art from local vendors.
Rainbow Walk – Downtown Kent – Saturday, Noon–4 p.m.
Ticket holders tour downtown Kent to collect rainbow-themed items from 20-plus participating local businesses. Each guest receives a reusable Rainbow Weekend tote bag to collect a myriad of items including rainbow treats, art, swag and gift items to share or keep for themselves. There also will be themed merchandise, food and specials at several of the downtown Kent restaurants and stores over the weekend.
Drag Brunch at Belltower Brewing – Sunday, 1-3 p.m.
The brewery is hosting a spooky themed "Brunch Boots" drag brunch. Reservations are encouraged.
A complete list of activities, participating businesses, sponsors and themed merchandise food and specials, is available here.
This Rainbow Shines Over an Important Purpose
In addition to raising awareness, promoting community and giving people a lot of fun things to do, Rainbow Weekend helps raise funds for Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund. This essential fund helps LGBTQ+ students in crisis with additional funding for books, academic supplies, household items, housing or food.
Proceeds from the Drag Race 5K, the Popped! quilt raffle and a portion of weekend sales from Bent Tree Coffee will benefit Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund.
“This year, I’m especially proud of Main Street Kent picking up the 5K fundraiser for the LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund, which is now known as the Drag Race 5K,” said Ditlevson. “They filled a critical gap in that the Rainbow Run was one of the main fundraisers for the emergency fund. I was fearful we would run out of funding for the emergency fund, but this new effort lessens this likelihood.”
Meghan Schwind, assistant director of Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Center said, “The Emergency Fund assisted 85 students last year, providing $40,458 in emergency funding for books, academic supplies, household items, housing and food. The students who have been awarded from the Emergency Fund are LGBTQ+ students in financial crisis, oftentimes after being disowned or cut off from family support because of who they love or how they identify – just being themselves.”
Paying it Forward
Reflecting on the purpose of the weekend, Schwind recalls her own coming out experience with the feeling that for members of the community, participating and volunteering at events like Rainbow Weekend and June Pride Festivals can be little ways of “paying it forward.”
“I grew up with very little awareness of or exposure to the LGBTQ+ community. I didn’t know that queer women existed until I was a teenager and didn’t come out until I was in college,” she said. “Many of my friends and teammates came out before me in college and watching them come out provided me with so much hope.”
“Having the Rainbow Weekend, visibility of the LGBTQ+ community and support of the Kent community shows our closeted friends that is it okay to embrace their authentic selves, and I am hopeful that when they are ready to come out, they know they have the community to love and support them,” Schwind said. “Plus, who doesn’t like seeing the colorful rainbow colors all around town and wave a flag with pride?”
