Pride UBC

Pride UBC, originally called Gay People of UBC, is an organization created by and for gay people at the University of British Columbia. It intended to help student members socialize and discuss issues important to the community.

History
The first edition of the group was called the Gay Liberation Front, and held its first meeting in October 1971. Its name changed soon after to Gay People's Alliance, with meetings held weekly in the Student Union Building. Advertisements in the student newspaper, The Ubyssey, suggest meetings included discussions about everything from social happenings to structural conversations. The group also engaged in activism; for example, in 1972 members picketed a Jiffy Print location after the business refused to print an advertisement for a dance sponsored by the organization.

In 1973, after a name change to Gay People of UBC, the club expanded its scope and brought presentations on gay issues to campus. The organization was involved in hosting UBC's first ever gay liberation symposium called "Contemporary Society and the Gay Struggle," in which five panelists spoke, including Torontonian Jearld Moldenhauer, on several issues. More than 100 people attended.

It also eventually began hosting Gay and Lesbian Week (later called OUT Week) starting in 1980, as the liberation movement gained in societal support and acceptance. Events associated with the week included workshops, speakers, dances, and networking opportunities. Tim Stevenson, president of the group that year, spoke at a luncheon and said that bigots like Anita Bryant were only serving to inspire gay people to become more vocal.

The organization was officially recognized as a UBC club in 1984, which allowed it to receive funding from student fees. As it continued to grow and increased its presence and campus activism, the group began offering multiple discussion groups a week in the early 2000s.

Name changes
The group changed names several times over the decades, at one point called Gay People's Alliance and then UBC Gay Alliance Towards Equality Club. In 1973, members decided to change its name to Gay People of UBC, in 1982, to Gays and Lesbians of UBC, in 1994, to Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals of UBC, and in 1997, Pride UBC.

Pride UBC
The organization continues to exist today as Pride UBC. It offers education and social resources for members of the LGBT community on campus, including students, staff and faculty, and operates a space out of the AMS Nest.