All of the UMD community is invited to kick off Pride Month 2023! Our theme for this year is "Love me Tender, Love me Queer."

Dinner will be served at 7:30pm (catered from Moby's). Those who are keeping fast will be invited in a few minutes early so they can break fast at 7:34pm. There will be a photo booth, and our event playlist will exclusively feature songs by queer and trans artists of color.

We are thrilled to have Rayceen Pendarvis as our keynote speaker. Known as the High Priestess of Love, the Queen of the Shameless Plug, the Empress of Pride, and the Goddess of DC, Rayceen is an event host, community advocate, and lifelong Washingtonian. Rayceen hosts various annual and special events by Team Rayceen Productions and has hosted events in conjunction with DC Public Library, DC Department of Aging and Community Living, The DC Center for the LGBT Community, Story District, and other organizations. Rayceen is active on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Please visit Rayceen.com.

Following some short introductory remarks from Rayceen, the main program will be a dialogue between Rayceen and Leo Osei, Jr. '25. Launching Pride Month with an intergenerational dialogue between a Black queer elder and a current out Black student reflects our intention to center racial justice, the wisdom of our elders, and the wisdom of our youth. The program will cover topics such as pride across time, the politics of visibility, and the healing power of queer and trans joy. Following their dialogue, Leo will also moderate a Q&A section open to all audience members.

If you have any accessibility needs, please contact shabab@umd.edu and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

This event is hosted by MICA in partnership with the LGBTQ+ Equity Center, the Office of Graduate Diversity & Inclusion, and SEE.