Celebrating Pride at Skidmore

The Skidmore community celebrated all things Pride in honor of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month on Porter Plaza. 

A Progress Pride Flag hung proudly while paper prompts encouraged reflection on various questions like, “How can we acknowledge and celebrate the diversity within the LGBTQIA+ community?”  

Mocktails by Bars without Boundaries helped to beat back the summer heat, and an assortment of cheeses, fruits, cookies, and other delicious treats gave those gathered plenty to snack on.  

Attendees were also encouraged to select from a variety of Pride swag, including pins, fans, and stickers. 

Mariel Martin, who served as associate dean of student affairs for campus life and engagement from 2015-21 and who was recently appointed Wyckoff Center director, organized the event.  

"After last year’s successful educational Pride Month panel discussion, this year, we wanted to host an event to celebrate LGBTQIA+ joy. We invited students, staff, and faculty to come together for a social gathering and asked participants to share what pride means to them and how we can continue to create an inclusive campus community," Martin said. "We were excited to partner with Bars without Boundaries, a local mobile bar featuring Pride-themed mocktails, and Saratoga Pride!”  

President Marc C. Conner and his wife Barbara Reyes-Conner attended the celebration. Conner said he was glad to see so many Skidmore community members in attendance. 

This year’s Pride event served as an important opportunity to honor and support our LGBTQIA+ friends and colleagues, share laughs and experiences, and embrace the joy of being one’s true, authentic self."

"It’s wonderful to see so many gathered in allyship and pride to celebrate our caring community at Skidmore,” he said.