On Wednesday, April 30, Stony Brook University held their fourth annual Pride Fest Block Party, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Activities Center (SAC) plaza.
The celebration, held by LGBTQ* Services in collaboration with the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance and Student Engagement and Activities, consisted of interactive tabling activities, giveaways and a drag queen performance to get the community excited for pride month.
Maxine Moylan, the assistant director of Diversity, Intercultural and Community Engagement Centers and the supervisor for LGBTQ* Services, discussed the planning process and the significance of hosting this year’s Pride Fest in an email to The Statesman.
“In my position, I’ve been responsible for assembling the planning committee, as well as handling some of the outreach to student clubs and organizations that wanted to get involved with the event,” she wrote. “The team at the LGBTQ* Center played several key roles in planning and executing the event [—] from creating our promotional flyers and designing our [T-shirts], to creating Pride-themed pins and giving feedback on ideas for the event, and so much more.”
Moylan went on to explain that Pride Fest would not be possible without the support and collaboration of various campus groups, which have played an important role since the event’s creation.
“Partnerships with USG and LGBTA have been vital since the event’s [creation in 2022], and this year we were able to expand that partnership to include Student Engagement & Activities, who brought a fresh perspective and a wealth of event/program planning knowledge to the process,” she wrote. “It might sound overly simple, but one of the biggest goals for each year’s [Pride Fest] Block Party has been just making sure students are having a great time.”
The party began with students checking in at the LGBTQ* Services table, where they received raffle tickets for a chance to win a free T-shirt with a quote that read, “Hope will never be silent,” by politician and gay rights activist, Harvey Milk. Winning raffle tickets were chosen every 30 minutes, starting at 12:30 p.m.
Students were then invited to explore the SAC plaza, where a variety of clubs and campus organizations hosted booths showcasing their organization and distributing free pride-themed items such as stickers, pins, pride flags and more.
Some organizations that set up a booth at Pride Fest included Stony Brook’s Planned Parenthood Generation Action chapter, which offered free Plan B and other contraceptives, and the Fine Arts Organization, where student artists offered free speed portraits to students.
Other organizations included Cat Network which drew crowds with the several kittens they had for students to look at and pet, as well as opportunities to donate toward the care of stray cats on campus. USG’s table gave students the opportunity to tie dye T-shirts, either creating their own colorful designs or getting help from a USG member.
The Center for Prevention and Outreach (CPO) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) were also in attendance, with tables offering informative pamphlets and resources for LGBTQ+ students, including information on where to find support on and off campus.
Christine Szaraz, the associate director for CPO, stressed the importance of student support based organizations being present at events like PrideFest to demonstrate their commitment to supporting Stony Brook’s LGBTQ+ community in an email.
“CPO and CAPS have long partnered with LGBTQ Services, and we were excited to join PrideFest to show our ongoing support [—] in tough times and in celebration [—] and connect students with resources to help them thrive,” Szaraz wrote.
Smita Majumdar, the executive director for both CAPS and CPO, echoed Szaraz’s statement and emphasized that the organizations will always support all students on campus.
“Our programs and services are here to help students navigate challenges, manage stress, and build meaningful connections,” she said. “We want LGBTQ* students [—] and students of every identity [—] to know you matter, you belong and we’re always here for you.”
At 1 p.m., Moylan announced this year’s Pride Fest drag queen performer: Ivy Stalls. Before her performance began, she gave a brief speech, where she emphasized the importance of self-expression.
“As an LGBTQ+ person, I am here to begin to celebrate pride month with you all,” she said. “As a drag queen, I have one thing to say: I don’t care who you are, what you are, what you consider yourself or who you want to be. The one important thing is as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
Following her speech, she performed several songs, before inviting three students — and Wolfie — up for a dance battle. Each participant danced as the crowd cheered to choose a winner, who was awarded a awarded a free T-shirt from LGBTQ* Services.
Moylan highlighted Stalls’ performance as one of the most memorable moments of the event.
“She had such fun, positive energy, and really got the crowd energized and pumped up. The dance off really helped get the students in attendance invested and involved in the event and performance,” she wrote.
After the performance, the event came to an end and students were invited to take a last look around the different tables and activities.
“The reason we hold events like Pride Fest, the reason we have cultural community spaces like the LGBTQ* Center and UNITI Cultural Center, is because we know that college can sometimes be an isolating experience [—] but we want everyone in the Stony Brook University community to know that there [is] a place for them on campus, there [is] somewhere they will be accepted and celebrated for who they are,” Moylan wrote. “Especially at a time when many individuals within the LGBTQ* community are facing fear and uncertainty, it’s important to show that none of us are alone.”
