Week of Welcome Events

We are always excited to welcome new mustangs to the Cal Poly community during the first week of Fall quarter.  Each year, we coordinate across Pride Center and our sister centers in Student Diversity & Belonging to host a number of welcome events for students to learn more about community spaces, affiliated organizations, and ways to get involved. 

Coming Out Week

National Coming Out Day is October 11th and in order to honor the stories and identities of LGBTQIA2S+ students the Pride Center hosts a week full of events. We share oral histories and our own stories that make up our own unique Queerstory. This initiative was spearheaded by former students Anusha Swoda and current student assistant Mikala Puruggana.

For more information about navigating the Coming Out process and owning your own story in various contexts, check out our Coming Out Guides.

Transgender Day of Remembrance 

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. We educate, advocate, and honor through a candle light vigil.

Ballroom

The purpose of hosting a Ballroom event on campus is to honor and celebrate the legacy of trans/queer Black and Brown folks, whose resilience in 1980s New York shaped ballroom culture. In an era of societal discrimination and exclusion, they forged themselves and other marginalized communities a space to express themselves authentically and showcase their creativity, over time evolving into the vibrant and competitive ballroom culture of elaganzas and voguing that we are familiar with today. The Pride Center, every winter quarter, in collaboration with the other cultural centers hold this space to bring joy and community.  

GayPril

Central Coast PRIDE is not only a celebration, but a PROTEST. The Pride Center works with the numerous cultural centers and campus partners. We also present our annual "State of Queerness" which explores and highlights various aspects of LGBTQIA2S+ Campus Life. Some of the most popular events in the past have been our community drag shows and Pride Prom and here are a few recent events:

Lavender Commencement

Each year the Pride Center recognizes and celebrates the achievements of graduating LGBTQIA2S+ and ally students.  Lavender Commencement is an opportunity for family, friends, faculty, and staff to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our graduates. It is also a time for the graduates to acknowledge family, friends, faculty, and staff who have supported them through their long journey in search of knowledge and higher learning. More information about Lavender Commencement will be shared later in the spring term but you can see our most recent ceremony below: