The program aims to be academic yet enjoyable and changes based on the needs of the campus.
"This manifests in different ways each year," PRIDE week co-chair Ashley Afranie-Sakyi '13 said. "A lot of times we focus on celebration but don't have extensive conversations about what we're celebrating. This year, we're trying to be particularly thoughtful."
PRIDE Week began with the screening of Michael Lowenthal's 1990 valedictorian speech, in which he identified himself as the College's first openly gay valedictorian. The screening provided an opportunity for students to reflect on how issues have since evolved at the College.
A concert by New York rapper Mykki Blanco was held Friday evening, and 20 students had lunch with Blanco on Saturday.
"Talk it Out," held on Monday night, featured five panelists who spoke about their experience as part of the College's LGBT community. Tuesday night will feature "Camp Out," where students camp out, talk and eat s'mores.
The annual CookOUT, scheduled for Thursday, will offer free food from Stinson's and PRIDE shirts. Students will be photographed spelling out "PRIDE" on the Green.
TransForm will be held Friday in Sarner Underground and focuses on exploring how people express gender through clothing and behaviors.
"According to queer theory, gender isn't something inherent, it's something we do and perform," event co-organizer Therese Kienemund '15 said. "The event allows us to explore that outside an academic setting."
The show will emphasize the fluidity of gender and the many ways in which it can be expressed.
Each year, the event features used clothing from thrift shops and strives to encourage audience members to think about how sustainable their own lives and behaviors are.
PRIDE Week will conclude with a Bowtie Brunch in Collis, a potluck to create an additional space for people to come together, Afranie-Sakyi said.
Van Melikian '14, a member of the "Talk it Out" planning committee and an executive board member of Gender Sexuality XYZ, said PRIDE Week provides a large amount of LGBT-oriented programming not typically available during the year.
"It puts the issue out there for people who would otherwise choose not to engage in the issue and come to these events," he said. "Oftentimes, the very people who should go to an event are the people who opt not to go. Having their friends and classmates talking about PRIDE Week and these events, it disseminates the conversation a bit more."
Melikian said the current campus climate and the tension that has built up over the past week makes PRIDE Week even more significant this year.
"One of the issues that was raised was homophobia, and that is an issue raised not only at Dartmouth but everywhere," he said. "We really do need to maintain the dialogue about these issues and make the conversation about what can we do to fight these things. PRIDE Week is very important in terms of keeping that momentum going."
Afranie-Sakyi said event organizers were cognizant of the campus climate when organizing the program.
"When you do mindful programming that means you're already attuned to the pulse of the campus," she said. "The issues are always important. They haven't necessarily gained or lost importance."
PRIDE Week is important for those questioning their sexuality, Kienemund said, as the planned events allow students to meet others invested in LGBT issues and to discover the resources available to them at the College.
PRIDE Week also allows those involved to identify areas at the College where student needs have yet to be met, she said.
Afranie-Sakyi hopes the week will give students a space to celebrate, and said it is vital that this continue throughout the year.
"PRIDE Week isn't the only time to have these discussions," she said. "It's not one day or one event, it continues."
Students organizers said events are open to campus and all students are welcome to attend.
"These events are an opportunity to go and try something new if you haven't really been a part of these activities before," Afranie-Sakyi said.
