Spelman, Morehouse are ‘coming home’ during combined LGBT Pride Week

They are coming home and they will let no one stand in their way.

Spelman College and Morehouse College are joining forces for its Pride Week  that kicks off today and includes numerous programs and workshops for LGBT students at both campuses with the theme “We Are Coming Home: Claiming Space, Redefining It & Celebrating Wholeness.”

“Following in the footsteps of our fierce predecessors Je-Shawna C. Wholley, Michael Brewer, Daniel Edwards and Kevin Webb, we have joined forces again to host our prides collectively. We are being intentional about celebrating living visibly and doing so unapologetically,” states a press release from the SpelHouse Pride Committee.

In 2009, Spelman’s Afrekete organized its first annual Pride week as a “radical response” to Morehouse’s New Appropriate Attire Policy that stated men at Morehouse could not wear such items as heels or carry purses as well as saggy pants.  The Spelman Pride Week concluded with a fashion show, WERK, that encouraged participants to dress outside “traditional” gender norms, also to strike back at the Morehouse clothing policy.

In 2010, Morehouse College Safe Space celebrated its first P.R.I.D.E. (Progress, Restoration, Identity, Dignity and Empowerment) Week  also to confront homophobia on campus and from administrators.

Both campuses have taken great strides in ensuring LGBT students are welcome with Spelman hosting a historic summit for black LGBT students in 2011  and in 2012 Morehouse began offering a credited class on black LGBT culture and politics.

The keynote address will be given Wednesday by Kim Katrin Crosby of Toronto, the co-founder of The People Project, a movement of queer and trans folks of color and our allies. She has also been recognized as one of Go Magazine’s ’100 Women We Love’ in 2012 and in 2013 she was honored as one of the Game Changers for The Insight Project.
“Our goals for the celebratory week this year are quite intentional and bold, but simple: to celebrate the fearless, creative, and resilient spirits of LGBTQ folks of color; to promote community and alliance
building amongst our student body; and to celebrate, affirm, and take pride in our identities—culturally, spiritually, and holistically,” the SpelHouse Pride Committee states.

Programming for the week:

MONDAY, MARCH 24
The Homecoming
A space for poetry, spoken word, music, dance, narrative sharing, loving and healing
7:30-9:30 p.m.
MLK Chapel (second floor)

TUESDAY, MARCH 25
Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Telling Their Tales
Including a performance by E. Patrick Johnson
6:30-8:15 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public
Emma & Joe Adams Concert Hall
Ray Charles Performing Arts Center
Morehouse College

Safe Sex Workshop
7-9 p.m.
Facilitated by Marla Stewart
Suites Private Dining Room
Spelman College

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
Twitter chat
12-1:30 p.m.
Moderated by Samantha Master
HBCU program director for Human Rights Campaign

Gathering Honey: The Oral Histories of Southern Black Women Who Love Women
4 p.m.
Written and directed by E. Patrick Johnson
Cosby Museum of Fine Arts
Spelman College

Keynote speech by Kim Katrin Crosby
6:30-8 p.m.
Cosby Museum of Fine Art
Spelman College

THURSDAY, MARCH 27
Speak Out!
3-4 p.m.
Front of Kilgore Student Center
Morehouse College

Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen
6-8 p.m.
Film screening with chat moderated by Amir Jones
Dansby Hall Room 200
Morehouse College

FRIDAY, MARCH 28
Pretty Slays! A Drag Variety Show
7-9 p.m.
Cosby Auditorium
Spelman College

SATURDAY, MARCH 29
Our First Queer Prom
9 p.m.-midnight
Music by DJ Jay Marz
Holiday Inn Atlanta Downtown