Post submitted by HRC Faith Organizer Daniel Ball

Recently, HRC Mississippi joined the city of Oxford, the University of Mississippi, and the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies to celebrate the second annual Oxford Pride. 

The weekend celebration consisted of several activities intended for fellowship and to bring awareness and engagement around issues facing the LGBTQ community in Mississippi. The weekend culminated in a pride parade, which attracted more than 500 people from around north Mississippi.

The Friday activities included the University of Mississippi’s Lavender Graduation, which is a celebration to acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of its LGBTQ students and allies who are working to create a safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ students on campus. HRC Mississippi Faith and Outreach Organizer, Daniel Ball, an alumnus of the university, was the featured speaker at the event.

Ball spoke about the importance of staying engaged after graduation and how advocacy on and off campus can help the most vulnerable communities in Mississippi. The Dean of the University, the Vice Chancellor of Diversity Affairs, and the Vice Chancellor of Racial Reconciliation also spoke. All speakers had a common message aimed at promoting unity and encouraging action: “Collective power provides collective solutions”.

Interested in volunteering with HRC at your local pride event? Sign up hrc.org/pride today. Learn more about HRC's work in Mississippi at hrc.org/Mississippi.