Rice Pride Week is an annual celebration dedicated to honoring the vibrant diversity, contributions, and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community both on our campus and beyond. This week-long event provides a unique opportunity to spotlight the struggles, triumphs, and cultural impact of the LGBTQ+ community, fostering a deeper understanding of the queer experience. Rice PRIDE organizes Pride Week each year to celebrate queerness on campus. Unfortunately, a majority of students are not present on campus in June during Pride Month, so we made our own week.
At Rice University, we are passionately committed to curating a dynamic and inclusive celebration that dances beyond traditional boundaries, showcasing the dazzling facets of LGBTQ+ culture, history, and pride.
Rice University joyfully recognizes the importance of Rice Pride Week in cultivating a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and visibility within the LGBTQ+ community. The institution is dedicated to igniting new sparks of creativity, fostering innovative ideas, and encouraging contributions that ensure the next generation inherits the resilience, sparkle, and strength needed to thrive.
Our Rice Pride Week celebration unfolds with a carefully curated series of events, discussions, and festivities that paint a vibrant portrait of LGBTQ+ culture.
Rice University aims to offer a kaleidoscopic view into the daily lives, stories, and experiences of queer individuals, inviting everyone to move beyond stereotypical narratives and to revel in the dazzling diversity and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.
Please click here to add the Rice Pride Week calendar to your schedule. For streamlined event information, we've suggested that groups register their events on the Rice Events page and Owl Nest. Many of the events on the calendar contain links to view more information.
We'd love for you to join us as we come together as a community to celebrate PRIDE Week!
Rice Pride Week Events
- April 8–26 - Queer Lit Book Display
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In collaboration with Rice PRIDE Week, Fondren Library is excited to present a book display celebrating queer lit titles.
Location: Across from the circulation desk
Contact: Jeanette Sewell, jcs14@rice.edu
Sponsored by Fondren Library - Monday, April 8, 6–8 p.m. - Pride Week Kick-off Event
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At this event, PRIDE members and allies can gather to celebrate the beginning of Pride Week. We will have snacks, a presentation outlining the events of the week, and social time.
Location: Rice Multicultural Center
Contact: Cole Holladay, crh12@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice PRIDE - Tuesday, April 9, 2–4 p.m. - HIV Testing, Arts and Crafts, and Swap ’n’ Shop
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Rice PRIDE will be partnering with Legacy Community Health to provide free HIV testing. All students, faculty and staff, including those outside the queer community, are encouraged to be tested. Concurrently, we will be doing arts and crafts with a Queer Market in the Brown Garden.
Location: Queer Resource Center and Brown Garden
Contact: Cole Holladay, crh12@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice PRIDE - Tuesday, April 9, 5:30–6:30 p.m. - Curating Our History
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Rice community members will be able to view the Rice PRIDE archives and contribute their own belongings/arts and crafts to the archive.
Location: Woodson Research Center in Fondren Library
Contact: Cole Holladay, crh12@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice PRIDE - Wednesday, April 10, noon–1 p.m. - ‘Trans Women in Herstory’
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Celebrating National Day of Trans Visibility (March 31st)
This presentation will raise awareness, celebrate the lives of trans-identifying women in history, and highlight what the community faces.
Location: RMC Miner Lounge
Contact: Pablo Hernandez, ph53@rice.edu
Sponsored by The SAFE Office - Wednesday, April 10, 3:30–5:30 p.m. - Pride Wednesday Hangout
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Celebrating National Day of Trans Visibility (March 31st)
Come hang out in the Multicultural Center for food, fun and fellowship. This event is open to all students, staff and faculty.
Location: Rice Multicultural Center
Contact: Avery Hartwell, ah150@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice’s Office of DEI - Wednesday, April 10, 6:30–8 p.m. - Interfaith in PRIDE: Exploring the Intersections of Queerness and Faith
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Rice PRIDE will facilitate a dialogue centered on the experiences of being affiliated with a religion as a queer individual. Food and drink will be provided. This event is only open to Rice undergraduate and graduate students.
Location: Rice Multicultural Center
Contact: Cole Holladay, crh12@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice PRIDE - Wednesday, April 10, 10 p.m. - Pride Trivia by the RLSA
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Join the Rice Linguistics Student Association as we create and host an engaging trivia game exploring the fascinating meanings and origins of popular phrases used today.
Location: Willy’s Pub
Contact: Zoe Katz (co-president of RLSA), zrk1@rice.edu; Paige Fastnow (PRIDE board member, linguistics major, point person), pf16@rice.edu
Sponsored by the Rice Linguistics Student Association - Thursday, April 11, 3–4 p.m. - Equality Texas Workshop: LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Allyship
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Equality Texas will offer a workshop on advocating for LGBTQ+ issues. This will include how to be a good ally, how to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community as both a queer person and an ally, what is needed to change hearts and minds, and what actions show true allyship.
Location: O’Connor classroom
Contact: Cole Holladay, crh12@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice PRIDE and Equality Texas - Thursday, April 11, 4–6 p.m. - Rice Employee Pride Happy Hour
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Queer and allied faculty, staff and students are invited. Food will be provided.
Location: Valhalla
Contact: Kelsey Ullom, keu1@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice’s Office of DEI and Dean of Undergraduates - Friday, April 12, 8 p.m. - Rice Pride Drag Night
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Join Rice PRIDE to experience the showstopping art of three of Houston’s premier drag performers. “The Man Bun of Houston” Hugh Dandy, moneymaker Dynasty Banks and the fantastical Teresa LaRue are sure to put on an amazing show.
Location: McMurtry College Commons
Contact: Cole Holladay, crh12@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice PRIDE - Saturday, April 13, 2 p.m. - Rice Pride Parade
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Join Rice in showing our pride in the biggest celebration possible: a parade! We’ll parade around the Rice campus to show that queer people should be celebrated in our community. Afterward, Rice students will be performing in a student-led drag show.
Location: Founder’s Court
Contact: Cole Holladay, crh12@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice PRIDE - Sunday, April 14, 2–4 p.m. - Rice Alumni Pride Graduating Student Reception
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At this mixer, graduating students will receive lavender stoles to wear at graduation. Light appetizers will be provided.
Location: Peter and Nancy Huff House
Contact: Sofia Horadam-Kalmus, sh168@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice Alumni Pride - Sunday, April 14, 7 p.m. - Rice PRIDE’s 2nd Annual Gayla and Awards Ceremony
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The Gayla provides a space where undergraduate students will be able to celebrate their identity across the queer spectrum at a formal event. We will also honor students, faculty, staff and organizations that make exceptional contributions to the queer community at Rice.
Location: Martel College Commons
Contact: Cole Holladay, crh12@rice.edu
Sponsored by Rice PRIDE
Special thanks to the Rice Pride Week committee members: C.J. Curley, Carlos Garcia, Catherine Clack, Cole Holladay, Ellie Mix, Gabby Galva, Greg Marshall, Jorge Arnez Gonzales, Kelsey Ullom, Yesenia Montoya, Paige Fastnow, Pablo Hernandez, Sam Byrd, Molly Slattery, Sofia Horadam and Avery Hartwell.
