*At Rider we use LGBTQIA+, encompassing a broader spectrum of gender fluidity and sexual identities, which includes: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and allies.
Schedule of events
Friday, September 26
Rider Drag Race
7 p.m. | BLC Theater
Student Entertainment Council
One of the most exciting events on campus featuring student performers and local legends!
Wednesday, October 8
Speak Out
11 a.m. | Center for Community + Belonging Living Room
Center for Community + Belonging; SPECTRUM Pride Alliance
Join us for Speak Out, a gathering where the Rider community can come together to share inspiring coming-out stories. Our narratives have the power to uplift and connect us all. Whether you’d like to share your own story or simply listen, everyone is welcome. We’d love for you to be a part of this meaningful event!
Thursday, October 9
SafeZone Training for STUDENTS
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Center for Community + Belonging
SafeZone training is a chance to expand your understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities, gender, and sexuality. It encourages you to reflect on your own biases, assumptions, and privileges while fostering a supportive environment. Participating in SafeZone is a meaningful way to demonstrate your allyship and support for the LGBTQIA+ community at Rider.
Premiere Event
Thursday, October 9
Beyond the Binary: Storytelling Workshop
6 p.m. | BLC NJM Room
Center for Community + Belonging
Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month with us at Rider University’s Beyond the Binary: Storytelling Workshop! Join us on Thursday, October 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the BLC NJM Room for an engaging evening of creativity, reflection, and community building.
Led by a nationally recognized poet, educator, and facilitator, this interactive workshop uses poetry, spoken word, and storytelling to explore themes of identity, body positivity, and belonging. Through guided reflection and creative exercises, participants will have the chance to share their voices, listen deeply to others, and imagine new ways of connecting.
Event Highlights:
- Poetry & Storytelling: Experience poetry, spoken word, and storytelling as powerful tools for reflection.
- Identity & Body Positivity: Explore your own story while celebrating body positivity and self-expression.
- Community Building: Connect with others through interactive exercises that foster belonging.
- Open to All: No experience needed—just bring your curiosity and creativity!
Come ready to create, connect, and celebrate LGBTQ+ voices in this dynamic workshop experience.
Friday, October 10
National Coming Out Day
Noon | BLC Lower Patio
SPECTRUM Pride Alliance
Celebrate National Coming Out Day! Join us for a campus-wide celebration of pride, identity, and community. Stop by to connect with student orgs, campus partners, and allies. Show your support and stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ students!
Tuesday, October 14
The Pioneers of PRIDE
11:30 a.m. | BLC Lobby
Rider’s Counseling Center
Join the Counseling Center in honoring LGBTQIA+ trailblazers who paved the way for progress and equality. This table highlights key figures whose courage and advocacy continue to inspire the community today. Stop by to learn about their stories, grab mental health resources, and reflect on the legacy that shapes our present and future.
SafeZone Training for FACULTY and STAFF
Noon p.m. to 3 p.m. | Center for Community + Belonging
SafeZone training is a chance to expand your understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities, gender, and sexuality. It encourages you to reflect on your own biases, assumptions, and privileges while fostering a supportive environment. Participating in SafeZone is a meaningful way to demonstrate your allyship and support for the LGBTQIA+ community at Rider.
Friday, October 17
Unspeakable: The Untold Story of The Trans Experience
7 p.m. | Yvonne Theater
Sharp
Unspeakable: The Untold Story of the Trans Experience is a narrative dance performance created by Sharp as a part of their honors capstone. It exists to inform those that have not experienced it of those struggles that transgender individuals face internally and externally. It is a short 45 minute show that is free to attend, and audience members are welcome to stick around after to have discussions about the transgender experience.
Friday, October 24
SafeZone Training for STUDENTS
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Center for Community + Belonging
Center for Diversity and Inclusion
SafeZone training is a chance to expand your understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities, gender, and sexuality. It encourages you to reflect on your own biases, assumptions, and privileges while fostering a supportive environment. Participating in SafeZone is a meaningful way to demonstrate your allyship and support for the LGBTQIA+ community at Rider.
Twelfth Night, A Musical Adaptation
7:30 p.m. | BLC Theater
The Department of Performing Arts
Twelfth Night tells the story of Viola, a young heroine who washes up on the shores of Illyria, disguises herself as a man, is sent to court a countess and falls hard for a Duke. As she navigates this strange and wonderful new land, she finds her true self and true love in the process. Featuring an original jazz-funk score by Shaina Taub, Twelfth Night is appropriate for all audiences and groups. Named one of the best theatrical productions of 2018 by Time, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Washington Post, Twelfth Night is a rousing contemporary musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy about mistaken identity and self-discovery.