FRCC Students and Faculty share their support for LGBTQ+ Pride. Photos by Massiel Orduna
By Madison Otten
Anyone walking by the Student Life Center on June 14 would have been treated to a colorful sight that would draw any passing patron’s eye. A door with several designs in a rainbow palette sat ready and waiting for anyone brave enough to lay kind thoughts or funny slogans upon its crisp surface. This was the Pride Door; it was meant in part to help celebrate the LGBTQA+ community and bring the Westminster Campus student community closer together.
Since June has become the Pride Month for the LGBTQA+ community, many people and institutions have taken measures in showing their support. The Pride Door is meant to give a voice to the community. It’s a step in the right direction, and anyone was welcome to participate in adding to the door. Student Life had set out a small assortment of rainbow-colored paint and paint brushes and the participants were allowed to add whatever inspirational or fun message they wished.
Jordan Ferguson, a Student Life Office staff member, appreciated the opportunity for people to express themselves.
“It helps brings awareness to what’s going on,” said Ferguson. “It gives people a voice to say ‘I am here and I am proud,’ and that is a big thing for the community.”
At the same time, Denver was hosting its yearly Pride Parade with huge marches and plenty of celebrations all around. Although the Westminster Campus is a ways off from the downtown celebrations, the staff of the Student Life Office was going to make sure the school would not go without some form of support for the Pride Month festivities.
Tim Mellon, the assistant director of student life, was the man with plan behind the Pride Door; he shared his inspiration for the Pride Door and his enthusiasm for the project.
“It’s exciting that I have the opportunity to advocate on behalf of the students,” Said Mellon.
Mellon divulged his belief that the door was meant to be a comparison of the barriers of coming out and being accepted by community members, friends, family and the like. Mellon also conveyed that the painting portion was meant to help the students take ownership of it, to act as a community point. He expressed his excitement in being able to host such events and to be able to give the students a voice within the campus.
Mellon wanted to make sure that this event was an acting doorway for progression and acceptance for the communities. After the door was painted, it was set up on campus next to the Student Organizations Center for everyone to appreciate and admire. For many people in the LGBTQA+ community, visibility and recognition is very important and is something that has been an uphill battle for many people for many years.
A contributor to the door’s bright mural, Mary Culkin, expressed her thoughts on the matter.
“As a member of student life, there’s a number of events that I like, and I feel that this is the best, and it supports the LGBTQA+ Community.” said Culkin.
This open event was meant to bring more awareness towards the LGBTQA+ community here at FRCC, it was meant to bring more cultural awareness and is a way for more people to get involved in more communities while on campus. After inviting creativity to the campus and providing a momentary escape from the everyday, Mellon has said that he is trying to host more events like this sometime in the future.
