This past week, SUNY Brockport’s Residential Life/Learning Communities, Campus REC and Prevention and Outreach Services helped celebrate Pride month with the Festival of Love. This celebration features different campus events each day throughout the week.
Tuesday’s event, the Glow Stick Dance Party had Zumba dancing, customized glow stick creations and colorful ice pops.
This festival brought both students and allies together, such as SUNY Brockport students Jenna Gresen and Ally Salerno.
“For me personally, I’ve been questioning [my sexuality] and just knowing that people are celebrating it, it makes me feel like I have support and makes me feel so reassured,” Gresen said.
LGBTQ+ allies attended the events as well to show support.
“I will definitely support them [LGBTQ+ students] in any way I can and they [SUNY Brockport] show that they really care about their students,” Salerno said.
Thursday’s event, Paint and Sip was a more stripped-down event where groups of friends came to unwind and listen to some music. These students were also given the opportunity to express themselves through the art they were creating.
SUNY Brockport student Sadie Jefferis came with their friends to celebrate.
“Going to events like these with me being a part of the LGBTQ community, you find a lot of people with common interests and I’m glad that there are events like this on campus,” Jefferis said.
Residential Life and Learning Communities Coordinator Devon Smith and his team have been putting these events together to celebrate.
“Obviously the LGBTQ+ community does go through trauma, so we need to build that positivity and celebration,” Smith said.
The Festival of Love is going on its fourth year at SUNY Brockport, always keeping the same message throughout.
“I started the Festival of Love four years ago. I started as a SUNY Brockport student and I came out here,” Smith said. “It [the Festival of Love] makes the students feel more excited to be here, even if they don’t come to the event itself. Just seeing that these sorts of things are happening has a larger impact.”
The celebration of the LGBTQ+ community will continue beyond this week. Having these dedicated events for SUNY Brockport students makes them feel seen.
