UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Drag queens, doctors, administrators, students and children converged on the Biomedical Research Center Courtyard on Aug. 22 for Penn State College of Medicine’s LGBTQ and Allies Affinity Group’s annual Pride Celebration.
Songs, speeches and ice cream peppered the pride event and promoted acceptance of all individuals by celebrating human equality.
Drag Queen and local cabaret performer Lizzie Beaumont, also a nurse in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, performed four songs during the event. Bill Krenz, Nursing Administration support, gave the keynote speech, and David Swift, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Penn State Health, also addressed the crowd.
Nonprofit guests included TransCentralPA, LGBT Center of Central PA, Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute and MCC of the Spirit.
The event is sponsored by the LGBTQ and Allies Affinity Network Resource Group, the College of Medicine Pride Group, and the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.