Pride parades planned across the country this month were canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but colleges are finding creative ways to celebrate.

LGBTQ-themed Netflix watch parties, online drag shows, and shoebox parade floats are among activities organized to keep students engaged and supported.

“There are a lot of people who are going to be coming here — either physically or online — in the fall, and they need to know there is an active community here for them, that there is support,” Frances Johnson, coordinator of the LGBTQ+ Pride Center at Texas A&M University, told Diverse. “Going to college is scary enough, but when you’re queer or from small (town) Texas or from come of these smaller areas, (college) may be your opportunity to come out…It’s about that representation and visibility.”

June 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of annual LGBTQ+ Pride traditions, according to the Library of Congress website. The first Pride march in New York City was held on June 28, 1970 in recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.

Read the full article on this year’s college Pride celebrations and view NACAC’s resources for LGBTQ+ students.

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.