Pride Week is a series of events hosted by the center, which aims to create a safe, inclusive community for everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Events continue through Nov. 7.

“As I look at the last 10 years, Pride Week is one of the highlights of the experience for me,” said Brian Buford, assistant provost for diversity & LGBT Center executive director. “It’s a time to celebrate with the entire campus community and to affirm our commitment to being an inclusive and welcoming place.”

There will be two keynote speakers during Pride Week, Jonathan Higgins and Noell Rowan. Higgins, an editor for Campus Pride and Lambda Literary writing fellow, will speak on topics related to intersectionality, race, gender and sexuality. Rowan, professor and associate director of the school of social work at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, will speak on topics including the unique challenges for aging LGBT people and awareness of clinical and social needs of LGBT communities.

Higgins’ talk begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 in Strickler Hall, Middleton Auditorium, Belknap Campus. Rowan’s talk is from 12 to 1 p.m., Oct. 31 at the Health Science Center, Kornhauser Auditorium, 500 S. Preston Street.

In addition to the keynotes, Pride Week schedule highlights include:

• Belknap Pride Kickoff & Resource Fair: Oct. 30, noon to 2 p.m., Red Barn & West Plaza. Resource fair, free food and flag raising ceremony.
• Queering your Career: Career Exploration and Preparation for LGBTQ+ Students: Oct. 31, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Student Activities Center, Room 309K. Free lunch and panel discussion.
• Health Sciences Center Pride Picnic & Resource Fair: Nov. 1, 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m., Health Sciences Center courtyard. Resource fair, free food and music.

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This talk is sponsored by the Student Activities Board and The LGBT Center. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Register .

Sam’s keynote will address his journey, triumphs over hardships, and lessons learned from key mentors in his life.

Sam ended his career at the University of Missouri as a consensus All-American and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He made history in 2014, as the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team when he was drafted by the then-St. Louis Rams. He is currently a free agent.

This event is part of a series of events that will make up UofL Pride Week 2016. Pride Week is a series of events hosted by The LGBT Center and is made possible by more than 40 sponsors from across the campus and community.

In addition to Sam’s talk, schedule highlights include:

HSC Pride Week Kickoff: Oct. 27, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Health Sciences Center Courtyard.��Resource fair and free food and shirts.��

Belknap Pride Week Kickoff & Flag Raising Ceremony: Oct. 31, noon to 2 p.m., Red Barn & West Plaza.��Resource fair and free food and shirts.

“Mission Accomplished?:The LGBT Movement One Year After �����������ڱ����:”��Oct. 31, noon to 1 p.m., Brandeis School of Law, Room 275; Free lunch & presentation from speakers: Chris Hartman, Fairness Campaign; T Benicio Gonzales, board member, ACLU of Kentucky; and Professor Jamie Abrams, UofL Brandeis School of Law.��

Come Together Kentucky Conference 

In addition to Pride Week, UofL is also hosting the Come Together Kentucky Conference 2016 from Nov. 3-6. The regional conference is planned by and geared toward LGBTQ college students. Students from across the state have been working for months to plan this event, which consists of more than 30 workshops and plenary speakers.��

This year’s conference features the “Y’all Means All” slogan, used courtesy of the Southern Poverty Law Center.��

Conference speakers include:

Michael Sam, University of Missouri football star, NFL free agent and the first openly-LGBT player to be drafted in any major American sport.

Payton Head, a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where he served as president of the undergraduate government and has been at the forefront of conversations about improving race relations on campuses in the aftermath of Ferguson.

Marta Miranda has more than 35 years of experience in organizational and clinical social work practice. She is now the CEO of the Center for Women and Families and has been an advocate, activist and community organizer for more than 30 years.��

Tiommi Luckett is a black transgender woman who co-directs the Arkansas Transgender Equality Coalition. She works nationally with Positively Trans and will speak about rural trans life.

Layha Spoonhunter is a two-spirit-identified Native American studying political science at Idaho State University. Spoonhunter was recently invited to the White House to meet with President Obama.

CTK is presented by the Kentucky Association of LGBTQ Higher ����ֱ��. Registration is $15 with college ID, but no college student will be turned away from attending. .��

Alicia Kelso contributed to this story.