PrideFest meets Banned Books Week at the Libraries

PrideFest is a celebration of NC State’s LGBTQ community. And it is also a moment to acknowledge and address challenges and threats to that community. 

This year, the LGBTQ Pride Center’s PrideFest (9/27-10/3) overlaps with Banned Books Week (10/1-7), a national event that highlights the value of free and open access to information and tracks the challenges to books around the country. Such challenges are on the rise, with many of the attempts involving books written by or about members of the LGBTQ community.

The Libraries is proud to be involved with PrideFest, hosting celebratory activities ranging from an interactive exhibit to t-shirt dying. And we are proud to help present the Banned Books Live Reading, an annual event in which talented NC State students perform readings from banned and challenged books.

Libraries events this week include:

PrideFest Exhibit
Wednesday, Sept. 27-Friday, Sept. 29 & Monday, Oct. 2-Wednesday, Oct. 4, 12:00-5:00 p.m. daily, Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery, Hill Library
The Libraries and the LGBTQ Pride Center have developed an immersive PrideFest exhibit in the Visualization Gallery. Drop in to learn about LGBTQ history, famous figures, symbols, and more! The Special Collections Research Center will host a show-and-tell of items from the University Archives from 12:00-2:00 p.m. the day of the opening.

Tie-Dye Shirts at Fresh Check Day
Thursday, Sept. 28, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Stafford Commons
In conjunction with Prevention Services’ Fresh Check Day, Libraries volunteers will staff a tie-dye station. Come out and colorize a great PrideFest t-shirt designed by the Libraries’ Emily Schmidt!

PrideFest Fun, Relax and Restore Fair
Tuesday, Oct. 3, 3:00-5:00 p.m., Stafford Commons
The Libraries Well-Being Committee will be staffing a crafting and self-care table. Come make something with us!

Pride Walk at the Hill Library
Tuesday, Oct. 3, 4:10-5:00 p.m., Hill Library Patio
During the Pride Walk parade around campus (which starts at Stafford Commons at 3:00 p.m.), the Libraries will have special activities as the parade passes Hill Library along Hillsborough Street. We'll be playing music outside and providing flags for you to wave as folks come by!

Banned Books Live Reading
Tuesday, Oct. 3, 7:00 p.m., Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre, Frank Thompson Hall
The Libraries is proud to partner again with University Theatre on this fall’s edition of Banned Books Live Reading, a night of live scenes and monologues from contested books directed and performed by NC State students. The event is free and open to the public; register to attend here.

Readings will be performed from the following frequently challenged books:

• Bruised Love by Nanette M Buchanan
• All Boys Aren't Blue by George M Johnson
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
• A Poem for Matthew Shepard by Margot Kelley Rodriguez (excerpt from October Mourning)
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
• Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
• Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
• Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou