Today kicks off Campus Pride, as April becomes a time of celebration, community and visibility led by the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA). After being inactive for much of the past few years, the club has reemerged with new leadership and a renewed sense of purpose, turning April into a month dedicated to Pride.
“I would say that GSA represents a safe space for people of all identities to form bonds and learn from each other,” said junior Richie Herrera. “We pride ourselves on our inclusivity and our willingness to educate students within the Fairfield community regarding the queer experience.”
At the center of that effort is GSA President, senior Alana Planas, who first joined the organization during its revival in her junior year. What began as an opportunity to help rebuild a missing space on campus quickly became more personal.
“GSA for the greater half of my college experience wasn’t an active club,” Planas said. “So last year, like the beginning of my junior year, one of my friends kind of asked me, like, ‘Hey do you want to be vice president and we’re going to try and restart this club on campus?’ And I immediately kind of jumped on the idea.”
Since then, Alana has served on the executive board, first as vice president and now as president, helping guide the organization through a period of growth. The experience, she said, has shaped her sense of identity and belonging in ways she didn’t anticipate.
“I never really knew that I could be a part of something this big, that could change our campus culture,” she said. “It really made me want to work harder to make other students like me and in our community more visible on campus.”
That mission of visibility is at the heart of April’s Pride programming. Through a series of events held across campus, such as Lavender Luncheon and Lavender Graduation, which celebrates LQBTQ+ voices, experiences and graduating students.
“I think the main goal of this month is be visible, show that we’re here and that we are proud to be here,” Planas said. “All of these events are really planned in order to celebrate our existence and celebrate us living authentically.”
The club itself has grown to include approximately 20 members over the past year, though attendance varies depending on the event. Meetings are typically held in McGrath Commons within Campus Ministry, a space Planas describes as comfortable and welcoming.
“It is a nice little space for us,” she said. “It has some couches, it’s a cozy vibe.”
But while the club has made significant strides since its revival, challenges remain, particularly when it comes to expanding participation and breaking down misconceptions about who the space is for.
“I think the hardest part for us is kind of getting people out there,” Planas said. “And I think breaking the stigma that our club is only for people who are in the community and identify within, because in reality, the club is for people in the LGBTQ+ community, but also for its allies.”
That sense of community can be especially important on campus, where perspectives on LGBTQ+ issues may vary.
“I think sometimes it’s harder to show up and be yourself in fear that someone [may judge] what you’re doing,” Planas said. “But I think just us knowing that our community supports us and supports what we’re doing definitely boosts morale.”
Even within a Jesuit university, Planas emphasized that support has come from many corners of campus, including Campus Ministry itself.
“Campus ministry is so very supportive of everything we do. They help us plan our events, and they’ll book rooms for us.”
As April unfolds, GSA’s Pride programming stands as both a celebration and a statement, a reminder that visibility matters and that community can be built.
“I didn’t have that when I was an underclassman on campus,” Planas said. “So that was really my main goal, make sure students like me didn’t feel like I did when I was in their shoes.”
