The Stonewall Tigers, an LGTBQ+ and straight alliance organization at the University of Memphis, will celebrate Pride Week March 27-31 on campus to bring recognition to the existence of a unified community.
The organization encourages people of all backgrounds to come together in a judgement-free zone to build an accepting space for students, said Andrew Phifer, vice president of the Stonewall Tigers and journalism major.
“It’s a safe place on campus for people in the LGBTQ community to come and not feel judged, and meet people who identify in their way,” Phifer said. “It’s also for straight people on campus to come and show their support to let others know they’re there if you need them.”
It’s the organization’s first year doing the weeklong celebration, and different events will be held Monday through Friday free of charge for any students who would like to participate.
“The week starts out with our pride parade, which will be a parade around campus, and it’s not just about LGBTQ pride,” Phifer said. “It’s kind of turned into this only love parade about loving yourself … loving diversity and loving everyone equally, no matter their race, sexuality or gender.”
For the Stonewall Tigers, pride week has become something, not just for the administration, but for the student body to have a voice, Phifer said.
“We’re actually here to make a positive impact on campus,” Phifer said. “So, by doing this, we’re really putting it at the forefront of the campus to make sure they know we’re here, and we’re not going to be quiet and to make sure our rights are respected as much as everyone else on campus.”
Bubba Garrett, a general member of Stonewall Tigers, said he joined the organization to find a community and can’t wait for pride week.
“I’m super excited about Pride Week because it’s been our biggest event in the works since last semester,” Garrett said. “We’ve worked really hard to develop our face for the campus, and the gay community is under a really intense microscope … Everyone is looking at us because we’re gay, or bisexual or whatever else. So, we’ve made sure we’re super on point with everything we do.”
Pride Week is going to be an awesome week, said Joshua Taylor, president of the Stonewall Tigers.
“My main involvement is the Monday event with the pride parade and the only love gallery, which is a photo booth we did last semester for students to celebrate love and diversity, and we’re displaying those photos in one big gallery in the UC after the parade,” Taylor said.
Keith Boykin, a CNN commentator who is open about his sexuality, will speak about his Diversity without Division program at Wednesday’s event. The Stonewall Tigers’ Pride Week is open to anyone in the community, students and non-students who want to be involved in the celebration of diversity.
Andrew Phifer (top), president of Stonewall Tigers, an LGTBQ+ and straight alliance organization at the University of Memphis, poses with group member Bubba Garrett (bottom). The group plans to hold their Pride Week next week at the U of M.
