Fehr and MSU Campus Pride celebrate Pride week
MINOT, N.D. – MSU Camps Pride president Steven Fehr welcomes students, faculty, staff, and community members to celebrate Pride week Sept. 27-Oct. 2.
Fehr is a senior social work major from Winnipeg, Manitoba who moved to Minot to marry his husband, Mike. Early in his time at Minot State, Fehr searched for a way to connect with other members and allies of the LGBTQ community.
“MSU Life was hosting their club fair, and I was looking for an LGBTQ club that I would be able to join,” he said. “I had circled the quad a few times looking for their booth, and here I see on a naked banquet table this piece of paper saying LGBTQ. There was nothing there. At that point, I asked around campus to see where this club was, and it ended up being that they had all graduated and passed the baton on to somebody else, and they let it go. That's how I got involved. I said, okay, I guess it's me.”
Three years later, and MSU Campus Pride is thriving with the most members Fehr has seen so far.
“Whatever happened, once I came to my final year, I just hoped I would be able to pass that baton on to somebody else,” he said. “With this big group, I feel comfortable that is going to happen.”
This year’s Pride week is the second LGBTQ Pride celebration Fehr has held at Minot State, with last year's featuring the first raising of the rainbow flag on campus. See it raised again in the quad on Monday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. as the opening ceremony for this year's celebration.
Other events and activities will include guest speakers sharing their coming out stories, a personal perspective on being transgender from Asher Hoffarth, and a drag show for the finale. View the Minot State calendar at MinotStateU.edu/calendar/ for a complete list of events.
Fehr has a unique connection to the final event of the week.
“I actually was never introduced to drag until I got to Minot,” he said. “I saw a real interest in forming a character. I saw one show and was like, hey, I can do that.”
On top of sharing a shocking resemblance to Fehr, the host of the drag show, queen Iphelia Payne, is in an experienced performer.
“She was at the Magic City Equality new performer showcase. Then she went as an audience member to a show in Fargo and was invited to come back for a performance, so she went back another time, and since then, she's been asked to go back and perform again,” Fehr said. “I want her to do more here, so being part of this club, she definitely will be invited to come out to different things. She wants to be here all the time."
While Fehr is excited for all of the events during Pride week, what he looks forward to most is bringing people together to focus on diversity and inclusion. On behalf of the club, he shares this message inspired by the White House’s 2021 Pride month proclamation:
“We recognize the resilience and determination of the many individuals who are fighting just to live freely and be who they authentically are. In doing so, they are opening up their hearts and minds and laying the foundation for a more just and equitable campus. For this Pride week, we affirm the obligation to uphold the dignity of all people and dedicate ourselves to protecting the most vulnerable among us.”
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 09/22/21 |
