UNI Proud will be presenting their annual Pride Week with the theme, “Always Here, Forever Queer,” April 6-10 . The purpose of Pride Week is to raise awareness, celebrate and thank those who have contributed to the acceptance and equality of the LGBT* community.

 Other groups have also contributed to hosting the events, including One Iowa, Trans*genda and UNIFI. Events throughout the week will include a Drag Show, ‘Queer Monologues,’ Keynote Speaker Donna Red Wing, an HIV/AIDS documentary and Progressive Prom.

Pride Week will kick off Monday with the Drag Show, located in the Maucker Union at 8 p.m. Performers in the drag show have the option to be tipped for their performance. All proceeds and tips made will go towards Community AIDS Assistant Project in Waterloo. CAAP helps the community of HIV/AIDS positive individuals and their families in terms of finances and personal support. 

On April 7 at 7 p.m., the ‘Queer Monologues’ will take place in the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Jebe Hall. The ‘Queer Monologues’ will be a reading of personal stories or experiences from the community and UNI students about how they identify with LGBT*. 

Gabriella Daft, junior political science and political communication double major and president of UNI Proud, spoke on the stories.

“Monologues range from humorous, sad and empowering, all being unique as the individual reading them,” Daft said.

Donna Red Wing, named “Most Dangerous Woman in America” in 2004 by the Christian Coalition for her work with the LGBT* community, will be the keynote speaker for UNI Pride Week. The keynote will be in the Maucker Union Ballroom on April 8 at 7 p.m. Red Wing will speak about her work as a leader, as an activist and will share inspirational stories within the LGBT* community.

The final two events of the week will include a showing of the documentary, “We Were Here” and Progressive Prom. The documentary about HIV/AIDS will be held in the Elm Room, located in the basement of the Maucker Union at 6 p.m. on April 9. 

To finish UNI Pride Week, Proud is holding its second annual Progressive Prom with the theme of Decades. It will be held in the Commons Ballroom at 8 p.m. Students are encouraged to dress in the clothing from their favorite decade, from the 20s to the present, when attending the Prom. 

Daft commented on the reasons for bringing Progressive Prom back for the second year in a row. 

“It [Progressive Prom] began to give members of UNI and the surrounding community an opportunity to attend an accepting and welcoming prom without fear of bringing whoever they wished and wearing whatever they felt most comfortable in,” Daft said. 

These various events throughout UNI Pride Week are free to attend and open for UNI students and the community.