CSUB’s OUTober celebration begins this week

Tuesday’s pride flag ceremony among several events planned throughout October

By California State University, Bakersfield

September 30^th, 2024

California State University, Bakersfield is celebrating its LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff with several events being held throughout October.

The university’s OUTober celebration kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with a Pride Flag-raising ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the admin quad. The event will feature several speakers, including representatives from Associated Students, Inc. and the LGBTQ+ gxroups on campus, as well as food and live music by Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles.

Awards will also be provided to three recipients at the event. This year’s winners are Helen Acosta, Kern County Rainbow Community Award; Olive Garrison, Rainbow Campus Champion Award; and Ignasio Castillo, Distinguished Rainbow Alumni Award.

OUTober is being held in alignment with LGBT History Month, which recognizes the history and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

“The LGBTQ+ PRIDE Faculty & Staff Affinity Group is excited to celebrate OUTober!” said Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies Dr. Jeremiah Sataraka, co-chair of the group. “We are especially excited to have, for the very first time, an OUTober Speaker Series featuring Tony Morrison, the senior director of communications of GLAAD and a three-time Emmy Award-earning journalist. We hope that our CSUB community will join us in celebrating and honoring the diverse experiences of LGBTQIA+ people.”

Here’s a look at some of the major OUTober events being offered:

Oct. 3: Painting with Pride, 7 p.m. at the Student Housing Multipurpose Room.

Oct. 11: National Coming Out Day Book Read aloud, 1:30 p.m. over zoom; LGBTQ+ Network Club Game Night, 5 p.m. at Student Housing East.

Oct. 15: Ethics in Film: “Rustin,” 5:30 p.m. in the Walter Stiern Library’s Dezember Reading Room.

Oct. 17: Brown Bag: “Reading Sexuality in Contemporary Zapotec Writing” with Dr. Marco Antonio Huerta Alardin, 12 p.m. in the Stockdale Room.; Pride Night at the women’s volleyball game, 7 p.m. at the Icardo Center. There will be a resource fair before the game starting at 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 24: Expression Nights, 7 p.m. at the Stockdale Room courtyard. Students, faculty and staff are invited to share their coming-out stories and there will also be drag performances.

Oct. 29: OUTober Speaker Series, 6 p.m. in the Student Union Multipurpose Room. Tony Morrison, senior communications director with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, will speak about his experiences working in the field of communications. The event will also feature a panel discussion with LGBTQ+ faculty and staff.

Oct. 31: Candy Salad Creations, 2 p.m. at MAGEC in Rohan Hall. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own candy salads. Each one comes with an LGBTQ+ person’s biography card.