Pies in the face, equality weddings and several discussions will be part of West Virginia University’s Pride Week.

The week, organized by the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Mountaineers student group, will begin on Monday, Oct. 12 and run until Friday, Oct. 16.

“We want to increase awareness, visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students on campus and promote serious discussion about issues important to those students,” said Charles G. Shields, president of the student group. “There are lots of fun and educational activities planned and we hope to see a big turnout from the Morgantown community.”

Events will be held on the downtown campus and around Morgantown. A complete schedule of events follows:

Monday, Oct. 12:

WVU Coming Out Day/ Blue Jeans Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mountainlair ; information about National Coming Out Day and the coming out process will be available at a booth in the Mountainlair. Everyone is encouraged to wear blue jeans to show your support for those students coming out.

• Dr. T. Anne Hawkins, interim clinical director at the Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, will speak about the coming out process. A panel discussion will follow, featuring stories from members of WVU’s student LGBT community, 6 p.m., Rhododendron Room, Mountainlair.

Tuesday, Oct. 13:

• Pie in the Face of Intolerance, 12:30 p.m., grass between Woodburn Circle and Armstrong Hall. For a small donation, throw a pie at volunteers from all over the WVU campus, including Shields and cardboard cutouts of a couple of your least favorite people.

• Reverend Kris Haig, of the First Presbyterian Church and lecturer in New Testament studies at Waynesburg University, discusses contemporary Biblical scholarship on sexuality issues, and modern-day interpretations of what the New Testament texts really say about sexual identity. Audience question and answer session will follow, 8:30 p.m., Blue Moose Caf� at the corner of Walnut and Spruce Streets. BiGLTM will provide a free coffee or beverage for all in attendance.

Wednesday, Oct. 14:

• Equality Weddings, 11:20 a.m., Mountainlair Free Speech Zone. A series of mock ceremonies in which WVU students will get “married” in protest of all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that real same-sex couples continue to be denied.

• Stephen Skinner, attorney, LGBT advocate and chairman of the board of Fairness West Virginia, will give a presentation on the current state of LGBT legal equality in West Virginia, 7 p.m., Greenbrier Room, Mountainlair.

Thursday, Oct. 15:

• Brownbag lunch and film discussion on “Prayers for Bobby,” 11:30 a.m., Gluck Theater, Mountainlair. This is presented by the BiGLTM in association with the Office of Multicultural Programs.

WVU Faculty Forum, 7 p.m., Greenbrier Room, Mountainlair. A panel discussion with five distinguished WVU lecturers who will discuss several topics of interest to the LGBT community. Open audience question and answer session will follow. Panelists include Dr. Scott Crichlow, associate professor, Department of Political Science; Dr. Daniel Ferreras, associate professor, Department of Foreign Languages; Dr. Adam Komisaruk, associate professor, Department of English; Nina Spadaro, lecturer, WVU Honors College; and Melissa Chesanko, graduate teaching assistant, Department of Women’s Studies.

Friday, Oct. 15:

• Pride Week booth, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mountainlair Food Court; general information about the BiGLTM student group and the benefit later that night will be provided.

• Fundraiser benefit at alternative dance club Vice Versa, 10 p.m., 331 High Street. Members of the BiGLTM group will be on hand to distribute informational pamphlets, fliers, promotional items and other free stuff, and to accept donations.

For more information, visit http://www.wvu.edu/~bigltm/.

-WVU-

cd/10/09/09

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