Fresno City College’s Diversity Club held its annual Pride Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 25 in the Free Speech Area.
The summer beach-themed event featured a myriad of opportunities for students to get informed on the support available to them. It also served to display pride and awareness for the LGBT community. Some of the organizations that were present included myLGBT Plus and the Fresno County Department of Public Health.
According to Armando Perez of the Community Health division within Fresno’s Department of Public Health, the department’s presence at the event was primarily to keep the students well-informed about dangers and advise safe sex.
There was food and entertainment as well. Aside from the mock marriage booth that allowed couples to undergo a faux ceremony, the entertainment portion included live shows by both drag queens and female impersonators, face painting from FCC’s Teacher of Tomorrow and comedy.
Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks were also served at the event for those seeking to enjoy an affordable meal.
Students seem to have flocked to the Free Speech Area once they heard the stereo music and saw the colorful arch of rainbow balloons which served as an entryway to the festivities.
The highlights were the performances of former Miss Gay Fresno Patricia St. James and Empress Maxi Grant of the Imperial Dove Court, a local group that often raises funds to give to charitable organizations.
“I didn’t know what was happening at first, but it looked entertaining,” said Deyon Gaston, student at FCC. “The music and the drag shows were my favorite part.”
The group that was responsible for the creation of the event was none other than FCC’s Diversity Club. The club is an organization dedicated to celebrating diversity on campus whose members devote their time to promoting acceptance and understanding of the LGBT community. This is executed through volunteer work and collaborations with organizations both on and off campus.
“I think it was a good turnout,” said Shane Rea, president of the Diversity Club. “ We started a little late, but we definitely had a good time.”
