Pride Week celebrates LGBTQ+ art, performance
Art de’Resistance, held on April 10 at the Multicultural Center, invited participants to paint self-portraits — not of how they look, but of who they are. One canvas showed a luscious green field, another a burst of layered colors. Each piece told a different story of identity and expression.
The event was part of Rice’s Pride Week, which took place April 7-12 and was held by Rice PRIDE and organizations including the Office of Access and Institutional Excellence. The week featured a lineup of events dedicated to representing the LGBTQ+ community.
Juliann Losey, assistant director of LGBTQ+ Thriving, said they see Pride Week as a multifaceted expression of support for LGBTQ+ people of all backgrounds.
“We’re trying to advocate and educate across all of the ways people exist — whether it’s ability, race or faith,” Losey said.
Art de’Resistance featured Community Partner Tony’s Place. First opened in the heart of Montrose in 2016 as a drop-in center for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing housing instability, Tony’s Place has since expanded to provide safe spaces, basic needs support, community engagement and education for LGBTQ+ youth.
According to Alyssa Kelly, program manager of Tony’s Place, Art de’Resistance is part of their extended effort to reach out to schools and other organizations to create a cohesive Houston community.
“This is the first time that we’ve brought a project like this here, and Rice is, I would say, probably one of the most welcoming campuses in the city of Houston,” Kelly said.
In Queer Questions of Faith, an event April 9, Reverend Morgan Gates opened space for dialogue between queerness and spirituality, especially amid increasing attacks on LGBTQ rights.
Losey pointed to increasing numbers of LGBTQ+ hate groups documented in the United States.
“So while we’re facing these things, it’s important for us to continue to express who we are and to continue to share proactive or positively put out there what it’s like to have a queer experience and queer joy,” Losey said.
This year’s annual Drag Night, which took place April 11, featured Rice performers and Houston drag royalty. All artists were compensated beforehand so attendees could enjoy the show without pressure to tip. Losey said this was meant to reduce economic barriers to celebrating Pride.
Other highlights included Pride Trivia Night at Pub, allyship bracelet making and the Rice Alumni Pride panel, which gave students a glimpse into LGBTQ+ life after graduation.
“Everybody deserves to live their own authentic life and be supported within the queer community and whatever communities they’re rooted into,” said Losey.
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