Pride Week at Carolina is a partnership between the LGBTQ Center, student organizations, University departments, and community organizations to host events that center themes of history, inclusion, intersectionality, expression, and advocacy within Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, and Asexual (LGBTIQA+) communities.
Community-Building Programs
The Center hosts social and cultural events that allow LGBTIQA+ and allied communities to gather for meeting new people, mutual support, and networking throughout the school year:
Annual Programs
Week of Welcome Events
Start off each school year with one or more of our casual social events for LGBTIQA+ folks, their affirming loved ones, and allies! Get to know one another while learning about groups, clubs, and upcoming events that focus on community and/or advocacy related to gender and sexual diversity.
Queer FallFest
Queer FallFest is an information fair for new and returning students seeking to connect (or reconnect) with others who share interests in social equity for people of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
Queer FallFest is historically hosted by student organization UNC Sexuality and Gender Alliance (UNC SAGA) with support from the LGBTQ Center.
LGBTQ Center Welcome Brunch
Generally held the Monday before classes begin, Welcome Brunch is a free drop-in event featuring free refreshments, an LGBTQ-themed playlist, a photo booth, crafting, and coloring. We encourage faculty and staff to attend so that students and other University employees are able to recognize affirming members of the campus community.
QGAPS Welcome Back Dinner
Hosted by Queer Graduate and Professional Students (QGAPS), the joint program between the LGBTQ Center and The Graduate School DSS, the week before classes begin. Welcome Back Dinner is a free drop-in event for new and continuing graduate and professional students. Featuring a free meal and typically held at the Graduate Student Center, it's a great way to connect with new friends, catch up with folks you know, and learn about the events that QGAPS has planned for the year.
Pride and Awareness Days
The Center participates in a number of annual pride and visibility observances that uplift LGBTIQA+ identities. We celebrate some of these identities on different dates than their national and international observances as needed to make them more accessible to the Carolina community. Our most popular observances are the Pride: Durham Parade, National Coming Out Week (which is when we hold Queer MiniCon), Transgender Day of Visibility, and Pride Week at Carolina.
LGBTIQA+ Advocacy Awards
Each year, we gather a committee of students, faculty, and staff members that represents as much diversity of experience as possible to choose three recipients of the LGBTIQA+ Advocacy Awards. Recipients are chosen from nominees who have advocated, educated, improved policies, and enhanced visibility in ways that positively impacted LGBTIQA+ campus and community members.
Lavender Graduation
At the end of each spring semester, we invite graduating LGBTQIA+ and allied undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to join in this cultural celebration honoring their achievements and contributions. Participants receive gifts and are granted the utmost agency in how they are represented during the ceremony and how public or private to keep their involvement.
Regularly Scheduled Programs
Book Club
Proposed by student staff and volunteers in 2019, Book Club started in May 2020 as a twice-monthly meeting of lit nerds and casual readers who love to discuss books, fanfic, and other readings with LGBTQIA+ themes.
Undergrad Student Socials
Center After Dark
Center After Dark is a twice-monthly gathering for LGBTQIA+ and allied students (typically undergrads) to play games, eat snacks, and do crafts, and socialize.
Center After Dark was suspended in Spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will consider resuming when it is safe to hold in-person programs.
Monthly Undergrad Socials
Hosted by the LGBTQ Center Ambassadors, Undergrad Socials vary in theme from PowerPoint nights to gaming or discussions.
Grad/Pro Student Socials
Queer Graduate and Professional Students (QGAPS), the joint program between the LGBTQ Center and The Graduate School DSS, hosts twice-monthly socials for all LGBTQIA+ graduate and professional students, monthly socials for QTBIPOC grad and professional students, and a "Queer Solstice Supper" at the end of the fall semester.
Faculty and Staff Mixers
LGBTIQA+ folks who work for the University in any capacity are welcome to join the LGBTQ Center once per month to enjoy casual conversation, build relationships, and support one another. Feel free to bring your affirming friends, colleagues, and loved ones.
Fac/Staff Misers were suspended in Spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will consider resuming when it is safe to hold in-person programs.
Upcoming Events
Browse Programs
Week of Welcome Events
Start off each school year with one or more of our casual social events for LGBTIQA+ folks, their affirming loved ones, and allies!
Undergraduate Social Events
Center After Dark has been suspended as of Spring 2021. Instead, we will have monthly student social events via Zoom.
Grad and Professional Student Socials
QGAPS Social is a bi-monthly gathering for LGBTQIA+ graduate and professional students.
LGBTIQA+ Faculty and Staff Mixers
LGBTIQA+ folks who work for the University in ANY capacity are welcome join the LGBTQ Center once per month.
LGBTIQA+ Advocacy Awards
This award recognizes contributions to or advocacy on behalf of LGBTIQA+ communities at Carolina.
Lavender Graduation
Lavender Graduation is a commencement ceremony honoring graduating LGBTIQA+ and allied students.
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