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=Husson Hosts First Pride Week=

By: Robert Nesbitt robbie_nesbitt@hotmail.com

BANGOR** - Gay Bisexual Lesbian and Transgender on RYE , “GBLT on RYE. That’s the group that held their first pride week at Husson University earlier this month. This is the first year a gay straight alliance group has been formed at Husson, which made for a lot of planning that had to go into the event. According to group member and past President, Allegra Boyd, GBLT on RYE made the decision just before Christmas break to host Husson’s Pride week. The original plan was to host an event every single day of the week. But due to a limited amount of time, only two events were held; an open mic-night and drag show. “There was so much to deal with," said Boyd. "We had planned on having an event every single day and a bunch of them fell through. Either because the person who was in charge of them was unable to get them together or we hadn't had enough notice.“ But after all was said and done the two events were held with success. Both nights brought in large audiences, even with the short amount of time for planning, GBLT was able to book a professional photographer, DJ, and makeup artist for face painting. Husson Student Braden Hanlon attended both night events, and was happy to see Husson host a Pride Week for its students. “I have gone to other pride weeks at other campuses and they were good. But this one was exceptional compared to the other colleges,“ said Hanlon. There wasn’t a positive reaction from everyone on campus about the event. Two faculty members expressed their disappointment to the group’s advisor Alex Patel. They were unhappy that the events were held during Holy Week and considered Husson a religiously affiliated campus. “Two faculty members complained," said Boyd. "One complained about the placement of Pride week, that it was during holy week, which we hadn't considered or really even known about. And another was disappointed that the university would be supporting homosexuality.“ Advisor Patel took the complaints to Husson President, Robert Clark, and received his full support of Pride Week and any future plans of hosting another. According to Boyd GBLT on RYE plans on hosting another Pride Week next year and hopes to host events every night of the week as originally planned. They also hope to improve on advertising, by getting more word out and awareness around campus on the group’s existence and what they are doing on campus. If anyone has any questions or would like to find out more about GBLT on RYE, they hold a weekly meeting every Wednesday at 7 pm. You can also visit them on Facebook by searching GBLT on RYE.
 * [[image:gayflag.jpg width="315" height="210" caption="Photo courtesy of ktar.net."]]