The week-long event is put on each year by various student groups and university office staff, who organize the demonstrations and projects. This year's schedule includes dances, rallies, a day of silence and a drag show.
"It's an amazing way to promote tolerance and acceptance," BRIGHT President Ryan Webster said. BRIGHT is Brody Hall's LBGTA caucus.
"It gives me an opportunity to put myself out there as a representative of this cause and why I believe in it."
National Gay and Lesbian Pride Month is recognized in June in Lansing as a celebration of LBGT issues and identities, but MSU's Pride Week is held earlier so students will be on campus to participate in events.
Webster said a lot of people assume that LBGT events are only about issues concerning people who are gay.
"When we're throwing a party, it doesn't always have to be about an issue - it can be about having a good time no matter what your identity is," he said.
Students say Pride Week is a way to show just how large the LBGT community is.
"It's a week to show pride about who you are," PRISM President Sean Lipke said. PRISM is South Complex's LBGT group.
Lipke said last year's Pride Week was the first time he felt confident enough to wear an LBGT pride T-shirt. Now he said he enjoys going out during the events to help educate the non-LBGT community about important issues, such as how Proposal 2 will affect the gay community and about the student-led effort to get a gender-identity clause recognized in MSU's anti-discrimination policy.
"It's great when people want to ask questions on issues," he said. "People are already somewhat educated on the issues, but it's a constant struggle for acceptance and against everyday discrimination."
On Wednesday, LBGT students will observe the national Day of Silence, bringing awareness of hate crimes by not speaking in any of their classes for the entire day.
"We'll be outside showing that there are people silenced by not being able to express themselves because of all of the pressures in society," said Patrick Collora, spokesman for the Alliance of LBGTA Students. "We hope to bring people from all over the campus, from different backgrounds, to learn something and experience something that they wouldn't have otherwise."
Thursday: Q*News Potluck at 5:30 p.m. at Valley Court Park, behind the Beaner's at 270 W. Grand River Ave. The publication's staff will release a Queer History issue.
Friday: Cabaret Drag Show will feature multiple forms of gender expression and will run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the International Center.
• "April's Shower," a comedy film, will be showing at 7:20 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Wells Hall.
Saturday: Pride Week Dance will feature a disc jockey and a raffle and will be held from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. in the Union's Gold Room.
Sunday: A Poetry Night will take place at 8 p.m. at Espresso Royale, 527 E. Grand River Ave.
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Monday: Guest speaker Emi Koyama will speak at 3:30 p.m. in a panel discussion titled "Keeping the Hope: Activism in the Repressive Era."
• The evening keynote speech also will feature Koyama and is titled "The Intersex Movement in the Second Decade." It will start at 7:30 p.m. in Parlor Room C of the Union.
Tuesday: A discussion about transgender issues and identities, called "T-Party 3: Translating our Identities" will be held at 7 p.m. in room 441 of the Union.
April 13: National Day of Silence, a day to reflect on hate crimes and those who were affected by them, will be recognized.
April 14: Musician Amy Fix will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Union. The concert's theme is AIDS activism.
Source: The Office of LBGT Concerns
