50 Shades of Glitter masquerade celebrates queer students
By Mia Gutierrez, April 21, 2026
The Pride Center and Centers for T.R.E.E. hosted its annual Pride formal April 10 in Ursa Minor, celebrating queer students and community including music, free food and photobooths.
Putting on events such as this gives students the opportunity to be their authentic selves, which may have felt impossible for members of the LGBTQ+ community in high school or growing up, according to physics student and community empowerment ambassador for the Pride Center Amethyst Johnson.
“Pride formal is important because it gives queer students the chance to experience a milestone many didn’t get to enjoy in high school,” Johnson said. “It creates a space where students can show up authentically, feel part of a larger community and celebrate themselves without judgment. For many, it’s a joyful opportunity to reclaim a moment they missed.”
Johnson also had a role in deciding on the theme “A Masquerade: 50 Shades of Glitter,” including preparing the decor and entertainment.
“We wanted the event to be exciting, and the theme that was settled on reflected that intention,” Johnson said. “Those who attended seemed to enjoy it as well, donning the masks to keep in theme for the masquerade.”
The turnout of the event seemed to be a success for many attendees including Panda Rodriguez, an electromechanical systems engineering technology student, shared her experience of the night and overall energy of the event that made it memorable.
“My experience was one of joy,” Rodriguez said. “There were so many people being their amazingly silly and joyful selves. It was a vibe that felt unique to a pride event. While there were small groups among friends, that didn’t stop people from interacting and engaging with others.”
Students were able to come together to celebrate their similarities and differences and embrace the community they’ve searched to find.
As both an organizer and attendee, computer science student Miah Terrazas said events like these are important for the queer community and mean a lot to her and her experience at CPP.
“During my first year on campus, I really did struggle to find my footing while getting to know the wider queer community,” Terrazas said. “As I went from attending events to organizing them, I felt obligated to make sure plenty of people knew what these events could mean for them and the importance of ensuring that those who came didn’t feel unwelcome and by the end felt a part of CPP.”
Students were provided with a variety of food options such as pizza, wings, salad and mac and cheese to fuel their energy for a night of dance and entertainment.
The Pride Center also made sure no one went home empty handed by providing two free photo stations to give students a piece of the event to take with them.
One of the photo stations was a classic photobooth with props and gold accents around the venue, including the backdrop. The other was a 360° video rig that captured students in slow motion and high speed.
The DJ filled the venue with a variety of music including 90’s and 2000’s throwbacks and more recent pop and rap hits to get students on their feet.
