Sounds of music and laughter filled the student union as students gathered for the annual Pride Gala, hosted by GSA, on Friday, March 14. The Pride Gala was created to be a sanctuary for queer students, but it welcomes students of all identities and backgrounds to celebrate as a community. This year’s Gala marked the third since the tradition began in 2022.
“The overall purpose of Pride Gala is to provide an environment for students who don’t feel that prom or other school sanctioned activities provide a safe space for the LGBTQ community,” GSA President senior Isa Baratoff said. “It’s just an inclusive event for everyone to come in and enjoy and express themselves in whatever way they wish.”
Although the event centers around celebrating queer identity, GSA members heavily emphasize that it’s not just for LGBTQ+ students — a misconception they say still lingers around both the Pride Gala and the club.
“It’s Gender-Sexuality Awareness, sure, but I think people need to understand that GSA is not meant to be just a space for queer people; it’s just meant to be a space where people can understand that they’re going to be accepted for whoever they are,” Public Relations officer senior Trisha Bhattacharyya said. “That’s just what the Pride Gala is.”
The Gala’s theme this year was “farmer’s market,” with decorations ranging from fruit baskets set on the tables to fruit-shaped balloons hanging around the room. At one station, students designed tote bags with colorful markers. At another, students experimented with temporary tattoos. Aside from these activities, many spent the evening dancing to the music.
“It was an incredibly good experience to just be surrounded by fellow queer people and also bring allies into the conversation,” junior Ella Omura said. “People might think GSA is just about rainbows and surface-level stuff, but this is about going beyond that — actually celebrating who we are, together.”
Students dressed in a variety of outfits — some casual, some colorful, others reflecting their identities in a way they might not typically express in day-to-day school life.
“I really loved being able to dress however I wanted and not feel nervous,” Trisha said. “There’s something so fulfilling about seeing people you know dress how they want without worrying about judgment.”
For Trisha, that sense of safety is deeply personal. She recalls the feeling of being in the closet in middle school, and how she felt restricted in the face of judgment. But after joining GSA, she was able to build up the courage to be more open with her identity at school.
“We don’t have school during pride month, so having a GSA event each year that specifically celebrates self-expression is just so validating,” Trisha said.
Though previous Pride Galas have been held closer to Pride Month, this year’s was earlier in the semester due to scheduling conflicts. To many students, the timing didn’t matter because the spirit of the event remained the same.
“Ms. Kassel, our supervisor, always says this is for us to have fun and create our own community; it’s not about anything else,” Public Relations officer junior Allyson Lingo said.
As the community continues to grow, GSA members hope that students understand what the Pride Gala truly offers — for queer students and allies alike.
“It’s really just about showing up and being yourself,” Trisha said. “That’s what makes it special.”
