Black lives focus of UofL's Pride Month events

Throughout the month of October, UofL’s LGBT Center will host a number of virtual events to celebrate Pride Month. This year’s keynote discussions will focus on Black lives.

“UofL’s Pride Month comes at an historic moment for our community and nation following the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. As UofL strives to become a premier anti-racist institution, it is critical we connect students, faculty, staff and community members to these current events by inviting them to explore themes of racial justice and liberation through a Black, LGBTQ+ lens,” said Lisa Gunterman, director, LGBT Center, UofL Belknap Campus.

"The Fight for Black Lives," a virtual panel discussion amplifying local LGBTQ+ leaders in the movement for Black Lives, is presented by the LGBT Center and Student Activities Board (SAB). The event will take place on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m., and will feature Phelix Crittenden, Hannah Drake, Keturah Herron and Talesha Wilson. #TeamStrangeFruit, Dr. Kaila Story and Jaison Gardner will moderate. Anyone interested can register for the event online.

“We hope this panel encompasses the intersectionality in the Black Lives Matter movement and protests across the country. The Student Activities Board is incredibly proud of the hard work and planning put into the Pride Keynote this year, and we’re excited to see all of our planning come together,” said Allison Boarman, vice chair, SAB Engaging Issues Committee.

A second Pride keynote, "Black Trans Lives Matter," is presented by the LGBT Center and Engage, Lead, Serve, Board (ELSB) and is set for Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. The virtual session will address the need for changes in health care delivery to provide better services for Black trans lives.

“The goal of the discussion is to move toward health equity in the face of staggering violence and health disparities because of systemic racism and transphobia,” Gunterman said.

Registration and information about the event can be found on the LGBT Center website.

While Pride marches and parades typically take place in June to commemorate the Stonewall uprising, UofL celebrates Pride in October, to commemorate LGBTQ history month and because we have more students on campus during the fall semester versus the summer semester.