On May 29, PHS students, faculty, and families gathered on the front lawn for the fourth annual Pride Fest in support of PHS’s LGBTQ+ community. Clubs from across the school, including the Queer Manga Club, Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), and Student Council hosted booths at the event. The PHS a cappella groups also performed various pieces throughout.
Alex Brown ’27, co-leader of the PHS GSA club and main organizer of the Pride Fest, explained how gathering funding and clubs was more difficult this year, with most outreach efforts coordinated by students. In past years, teachers have secured Pride Fest funding through the Princeton Regional Education Association. However, this year, because Pride Fest lacked a faculty advisor, it was unable to receive funding directly from the district.
“We’re low on funding this year, so it’s just what [the clubs] can contribute ... it’s really just a grassroots movement at this point of bringing people together,” said Brown. “It’s a lot of student-based work right now.”
While Princeton provides a relatively supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students, participants explained the importance of acknowledging the challenges that queer people continue to face outside of PHS.
“Princeton is a really privileged area to be living in, and this circumstance is not the same ... in systems in different countries and even in the U.S.,” said co-leader of the Queer Manga Club Priscilla Ha ’27. “The LGBTQ+ community is suffering so much under the Trump administration [with] all the cuts for things like [transgender] welfare and mental health.”
Given this climate, Student Body President Zoriah Bess ’27 believes that events like PHS’s Pride Fest are crucial because they can help LGBTQ+ students feel more connected and included within their communities.
“[Pride Fest is] important because a lot of kids need to be seen in their community ... We have so many clubs that are based on religion or sexual orientation or even race, like base clubs, so people can feel like they have a community here at PHS,” said Bess.
Beyond just celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, the event also helped to connect queer people at PHS together.
“Having everyone together and feeling confident in themselves ... it ties the queer community to this fun experience that brings everyone together,” said Hannah Suzuki ’29.
Bess believes that even students and staff who are not part of LGBTQ+ community can play an important role in creating a more inclusive and welcoming climate just by showing up.
“I’m an ally,” said Bess. “I’m not part of the LGBTQ+ community, but I still come and show support ... I want to be here because everybody else is here, everybody’s having fun.”
Brown hopes that events like Pride Fest help foster greater visibility and build a community for LGBTQ+ students.
“With such a hostile climate today, it’s so important to highlight the triumphs of youth,” said Brown. “Having that celebration, empowerment, and such a fun celebration is really important, because it just brings comfort to people ... knowing that they’re safe in this community.”