Rose State Students, Faculty and Staff March Towards Inclusivity Published July 1, 2019

The Rose State College faculty, staff, and students took steps towards inclusivity as the RSC Spectrum Alliance student group recently participated in the Oklahoma City Pride Parade and Festival held on June 22. Students, faculty, and staff joined together to participate in the parade, as well as setting up an informational table and booth during the festival. 

“My first Pride parade turned out amazing,” Lily Russell, Rose State student, and Spectrum Alliance member said. “People were cheering for us being there and for who we are.” 

Organizers for the Pride parade and festival say this year’s parade was the larger than past years, with over one hundred organizations participating, including businesses, churches, schools, nonprofits, and political groups. 

The theme of the parade was “Legends and Rebels” in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that ignited the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. The Stonewall riots began in June 1969, with confrontations between police and gay rights activists outside the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. 

Spectrum Alliance is the LGBTQ+ student organization at Rose State College. The organization supports and advocates for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, community members, and allies. This was the third year the Spectrum Alliance Group participated in OKC Pride. 

For more information on the Stonewall Riots, watch this video of Rose State Associate Dean of Social Sciences, Dr. Aaron Bachhofer and Oklahoma City Councilman James Cooper with KGOU:  https://www.facebook.com/metrolibrary/videos/329256601077900/