Fresno Famous

I know you’ll likely still be hung over from your chocolate bunny and Peeps binge this weekend, but do yourself a favor and enjoy the sunshine by heading over to Fresno City College Tuesday April 26, 2011 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help FCC’s Diversity Club celebrate their 6th Annual Pride Day!

Support your fellow GLBTQ peers by attending this free event with live entertainment and organizations throughout the Valley who support the GLBTQ community. Diversity Club members have devoted nearly the entire semester to planning and plotting this awesome event.

Thank you to Katie Pacella for taking time to answer a few questions about Diversity Club and Pride Day!   

What is Diversity Club?

Diversity Club is the equivalent of a high school GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), but at a college level. We are the GSA for Fresno City College. We are a club on campus that offers support, promotes awareness, understanding, and acceptance (not just tolerance) of the GLBTQ (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Questioning) community. We have weekly meetings during each school semester to plan social and political activities within the FCC community and even in the Fresno community. All are welcome to join the club. We encourage and promote communication and unity between the GLBTQ community/individuals and the heterosexual community/individuals.

Why have you decided to get involved?

I have personally been involved in the FCC Diveristy Club since before I graduated from High School. My sister was a student at FCC and a member of the club and I thought it was a fun way to meet people and learn about a community that I wasn't very aware of at the time. I'm 22 now and have been a part of this club since I was 17. I have learned so much about the gay community and their culture. It has taught me a lot about how to be an open-minded person and that we all are just human beings when it comes down to it, and that there is no reason to discriminate against someone because they are different than you are. 

What is Diversity Club Pride Day?
Diversity Club's Pride Day is like the famous San Francisco Pride Parade that is held every year, but the one we do at FCC is on a much smaller scale. There's actually a Fresno Pride that is held in the Tower District every year, as well. Pride Day is a day for the GLBTQ community to stand up and be proud of who they are. Our differences are what make us all unique and that is what Pride Day is about, showing how we can have these differences, such as our sexual orientation and gender identity, and yet we can all still stand as one and celebrate our differences in unity because we are all human beings with the same struggles, same emotions, and same goals.

Why should people attend the party?

People should attend because it's going to be a lot of fun! It's also a free event, and you can't go wrong when something is free. There's going to be live entertainment and organizations from throughout Fresno and from the campus who support us. Our club will be selling Frito Boats and Root Beer Floats too which will be delicious.

How can people get involved with Diversity club and/or future events?

Well, to be an actual voting member of the Diversity Club you have to be a student at Fresno City College. We welcome all people to come to our meetings and social gatherings and events though. We meet on Fridays during the school semester at 2 pm in room SO-110 on the FCC campus. There's also a group on Facebook that you can join. Just search for Fresno City College Diversity Club and join the group! :)

We hope to see you all this Tuesday, April 26th from 10 am-2pm for our 6th Annual Pride Day.

{Disclaimer: Katie is one of the nicest gals I've ever met. Tons of enthusiasm and kindness in a little package.}