This past week, UB’s LGBTQ+ center organized its first-ever Pride Week. Since its establishment last semester, the center has held numerous events, including its monthly interactive learning workshops, Queeriosity and weekly Mosaic Meet-Ups.
The LGBTQ+ Center, which opened on Aug. 23, is located in 230 Student Union. Operating from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, the center serves as a safe and welcoming space for all students to find community, support and resources. During hours, students can use the space to study, meet with other students or attend events — like Mosaic Meet-up — held every Thursday afternoon.
As a newly established department, the center is staffed by student assistants, alongside Assistant Director Gi Swords. The department also works with multiple LGBTQ+ clubs on campus, including PRISM: an undergraduate student organization that provides a safe space for people of color who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
On Thursday, April 16, the LGBTQ+ Center collaborated with PRISM to host their weekly two-hour Mosaic Meet-Up event. Typically, the Mosaic Meet-Up offers games, crafts and snacks from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. For Pride week, crafts were centered around creating accessories for the Second Chance Prom the following day. Pipe cleaners and artificial flowers were available for students to make boutonnières and corsages, as well as coloring materials for other crafts.
The Spectrum spoke with Swords about the department's creation and its first Pride Week during this past week’s mosaic meetup.
Swords, who earned their master’s in social work from UB four years ago, has worked with various LGBTQ+ organizations throughout Buffalo in recent years, and found the job posting for this position to be “a great fit.” They previously served as the Director of Programs at GLYS Western New York, an organization that works with youth and adults in the LGBTQ+ community.
As Assistant Director for the LGBTQ+ Center, Swords has helped coordinate all Pride week events, including the SpongeBob-themed drag show which Swords regarded as their favorite event that week. They attributed all credit to the performers, who came up with the idea of doing a SpongeBob-themed show.
Swords also discussed the department’s monthly event, Queeriosity. Unlike the routine Mosaic Meet-Up events, Queeriosity takes place on different days and times each month. The event has guest speakers, including faculty and staff members who present on LGBTQ+ topics such as Transgender Awareness Day.
Swords continued that the center created the Mosaic Meet-Up weekly gathering last semester, as they knew students were interested in having a regularly scheduled event. Once a month during their weekly meet-ups, the center also hosts Rainbow Hour. Held from 5 p.m to 6 p.m., this joint event with UB Counseling Services serves as a way for Counseling Services to be “available in a very informal way to meet with students.”
By doing activities like cookie decorating, Swords says it's “nice for them to feel like they can just interact in a more informal environment.”
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Photo: Mikaela Arnold
Photo: Courtesy of Finn Mingle
