Despite rainy weather and change of plans, the ninth annual Pride Awareness Month began with laughter on Wednesday night.
The month-long series of events is put on by UF's Pride Student Union, an organization that hopes to educate UF about issues concerning the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. The organization hopes to create awareness and celebrate the lives of the LGBT community, according to UF sociology senior Davier Rodriguez, director of Pride Awareness Month.
A Wednesday morning kick-off carnival was canceled due to rain, but there are plans to reschedule it later on this month.
But Marga Gomez, a lesbian comedian, still performed to about 75 people later on in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom, entertaining the crowd with stories about her life. The Tranny Road Show, a transgender troupe that features breakdancing, rap, poetry and folk singers, will perform in Gainesville on April 10., according to the event's Web site at www.ufpam.org.
Steve Hildebrand, Barack Obama's campaign director, will also be visiting campus to speak about LGBT leadership within politics.
This year's theme, "Dare to," challenges students to go outside their comfort zones, Rodriguez said. The Pride Student Union will be offering events such as a poetry night and "Paint-Your-Orgasm." They will also show films and hosting forums for students to learn more about the LGBT community.
Rodriguez said this year's goal was to cater to UF students by co-sponsoring events with groups like cultural clubs, fraternities and sororities.
Rodriguez said he is excited for what the month will bring and encouraged students to come out to this month's events.
"Our community is one that is misunderstood and not accepted," he said. "Through direct exposure and active collaboration we can start to understand each other."
