UT Arlington Commemorates LGBTQ+ History and Campus Pride Month
By Devynn Case, UT Arlington Communications
Posted on October 11, 2021, October 11, 2021

UT Arlington commemorates LGBTQ+ History and Campus Pride Month.

The University of Texas at Arlington’s LGBTQ+ Program is commemorating LGBTQ+ History and Campus Pride Month this October with events celebrating the diversity of sexual and gender identities. A variety of both in-person and virtual programs will include guest speakers, lunch and learns, giveaways and more.

Campus Pride Month coincides nationally with LGBTQ+ History Month—an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. LGBTQ+ History Month encourages honesty and openness about being LGBTQ+. National Coming Out Day is Oct. 11.

Josh Mackrill, LGBTQ+ Program coordinator at UT Arlington, said Pride celebrations let LGBTQ+ students be the most authentic versions of themselves.

“UTA is a diverse community made up of people with several intersecting identities,” Mackrill said. “Celebrating that allows us to affirm LGBTQIA+ students and lets them know that the University stands with them in advocacy and with resources.”

Events include:

  • On Wednesdays in October, Mavericks are invited to the Queering Out to Lunch Series, which features discussions about travel, literature and police interactions through an LGBTQ+ lens. Locations vary across campus.
  • The UTA Drag Show will be Nov. 3 in Rosebud Theatre starting at 5 p.m. The first drag show in two years will be hosted by award-winning DFW drag queen Kiana Lee. All tips and donations will go toward UTA’s LGBTQ+ Program scholarship fund.

Liam Rhodes, current Mr. UTA and a junior studying social work, said the UTA Pride events will be both fun and educational. Rhodes said he hopes UTA students and staff participate and learn new things.

“Growing up, I did not know many queer people until I started college at UT Arlington,” Rhodes said. “I saw the amazing community of people who identified as LGBTQ+ making their voices heard, as well as non-UTA students who did everything they could to offer support. Often times different communities feel underrepresented, but they can come to these events and feel supported and seen.”

UT Arlington, Support Youth and Families
News, Education, Community