GMercyU Raises Progressive Pride Flag on Campus for LGBTQ+ Awareness Week

On Monday, April 12, Gwynedd Mercy University raised the progressive pride flag to kick off LGBTQ+ Awareness Week. This is the first time the progressive pride flag has been raised on GMercyU's campus.

Students, faculty, and staff gathered at the GMercyU Bell Tower to commemorate the occasion, wearing new pride shirts designed by the Pride Alliance Vice President Natasha Halovanic, showing solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community on campus and beyond.

"The acceptance that the flag-raising symbolizes is what I and the rest of the Pride Alliance always hope for and work to promote," said PJ Kendall, President of GMercyU's Pride Alliance. "It makes our club proud, no pun intended, to be a part of this community and to have played a part in GMercyU's first raising of the progressive pride flag."

The Executive Board of the Pride Alliance began the event by welcoming attendees and sharing what the flag-raising means to them. Then, Jeff Wallace from Campus Ministry prayed with the community before the countdown began. With many cheers and applause, the flag was raised and secured to the Bell Tower where it will remain for the remainder of LGBTQ+ Awareness Week.

GMercyU's LGBTQ+ Awareness Week is co-sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Black Student Union (BSU), CORE, Diversity Committee, and Student Government Association (SGA). The goal is to provide various events to educate, empower, and engage the community, including a screening of the film "Rocket Man," a discussion entitled "Religion & Queerness," and more.