At the Faculty of Arts & Science, Pride month is always an opportunity to celebrate the community’s diverse, welcoming and inclusive nature — and this year, the party was especially colorful.
On June 18, some 75 faculty, staff and students gathered in the Sidney Smith Commons for the ninth annual Display Your Pride celebration. Guests were treated to rainbow-hued cupcakes and popsicles, as well as a variety of themed features and activities.
These included crafts, temporary tattoos, and balloon animals expertly fashioned by Chad Jankowski, Faculty Development Coordinator within Academic Human Resources, and Max Rostas, Facilities Administrator with the Office of Infrastructure Planning.
“Display Your Pride has become a cherished tradition here at A&S,” says Stephen Wright, interim dean of the faculty. “It’s a time for us to come together in a relaxed, joyful setting, enjoy vibrant treats, and celebrate our faculty’s ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all.”
Each year, U of T community members are encouraged to show their 2SLGBTQ+ spirit in a visually creative way, and this year was no exception. A tri-campus contest encouraged the submission of original Pride-themed photos for a chance to win prizes.
A&S members posed against radiant backdrops designed to represent the colours of the Progress Pride Flag. Over 85 submissions were received and displayed in the Commons during the celebration.
“It was lovely to watch the photo display come together,” says Lucy Chung, Director of Infrastructure Planning. Chung led the A&S planning team that came up with the idea for the rainbow-coloured photo display.
“The submissions we received reflected the amazing breadth of our community here at A&S, combining to make a uniquely vibrant mural and a fantastic backdrop to our ninth year participating in this great annual celebration,” she says.
Lisa Rumiel, the faculty’s Director of Research Services, was also a member of this year’s planning team.
She applauds the annual event “because it brings staff together in the Faculty of Arts & Science in a playful and fun way. The colours of pride are all beautiful, and together there are so many things you can do with them; it was a really fun, creative project to work on.”
Display Your Pride was one of several Pride month events held across campus, including the Progress Pride Flag Raising at Varsity Stadium on June 4 and the U of T Community Pride event on June 12 at Hart House.
