UCSB/Isla Vista Pride 2012 will feature a number of events this week to celebrate and connect with UCSB’s LGBTQ community.
UCSB Pride Treasurer Maha Syed, a fourth-year psychology major, said some of this week’s highlights will include a Professional Drag Show, a Queer Wedding, a film screening of “Mosquita y Mari” and the Isla Vista Pride Festival on Saturday. The festivities kicked off with an opening ceremony yesterday afternoon at Storke Plaza, with speeches from Congresswoman Lois Capps and gay rights activist David Selberg.
According to Syed, Tuesday’s professional drag show at the Hub (from 8 to 10 p.m.) will feature the drag king group Hir Bois. On Wednesday at 8 p.m., Aurora Guerrero, writer and director of “Mosquita y Mari,” will host a Q&A session with students about her award-winning film, which focuses on the relationship between two Chicana girls growing up in Los Angeles.
Syed said she feels this year’s slogan, “Taste the Rainbow,” is more playful than past themes.
“We are really about exploring diversity within the community and kind of looking at intersectionalities that are not really visible,” Syed said. “We have a lot of workshops too, besides some of the main events that I mentioned going on. … We are basically just trying to explore diversity and celebrate all queer identities on campus.”
For more information about 2012 Pride Week events, visit www.pride.as.ucsb.edu.