Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month

Dear Wilson College Community,

Welcome to LGBTQ Pride Month!

Pride month is celebrated in June because of the Stonewall Uprising, a series of impactful protests in New York City in 1969 that catalyzed the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States, according to the Library of Congress. The month serves to honor the impact that members of the community have made on history.

We invite you to learn about just a few of the ways the LGBTQ community enhances our Wilson College community, as well as ways you can seek community and support on NC State’s campus. 

Wilson College Works Inspired by Pride

“The Lovers:” Leeman Smith (FTD ’22)

“This collection is inspired by my journey as a queer person navigating between the two sides of myself that I feel are male and female. 

By utilizing heavy, vibrant colors and free-flowing shapes I am creating three mixed-media textile tapestries inspired by one of the Major Arcana cards of the Tarot called ‘The Lovers.’  This card is a depiction of biblical Adam and Eve below an angel. 

By relating myself to this image, I am endeavoring to develop a collection that explores the male and female sides of myself and the sacred relationship between the two that makes me who I am.”

“Behind Closed Doors:” Schuyler Broadway (FTD ’22)

“It’s really based on my experiences as a queer and trans person in the fetishwear community,” Broadway says.

The collection, “Behind Closed Doors,” served not only as a message, but also as a celebration. To make that celebration authentic, Broadway chose all trans models, many of whom are coworkers from NC State’s LGBTQ Pride Center.

“Every look was custom-fit not only to their measurements, but also  to their personality and their style,” he explains.

Diversity Propels the Wilson College of Textiles and the North Carolina Textile Foundation

Diversity and inclusivity are interwoven into the core values that inform the work of the Wilson College of Textiles and the North Carolina Textile Foundation (NCTF), which serves as the college’s philanthropic arm.

The NCTF makes the college’s groundbreaking, industry-leading work possible. That exceptional work includes supporting change agents, glass ceiling breakers and equity seekers in a variety of ways. With the foundation’s financial backing and extensive network of connections, our college’s students, staff and alumni, including members of the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council, can continue to further their understanding and celebration of diversity and inclusion.  

Find resources and community

Pride Month is the perfect chance to learn and connect. A variety of student organizations and programs are available on campus.