By The Keystone Newspaper Planetarium shows, karaoke and a ‘90s-themed prom celebrate pride
By John Mahoney
Allies are celebrating their club’s 30th anniversary at KU the week of April 28, 2025, ringing in the occasion with their annual Pride Prom and a slew of other events to honor the LGBTQ+ community on campus.
All events held throughout the week are free and open to all, with no attendance limit.
“Star-Gay-Zing,” a show at the KU planetarium, kicks off the celebration on Monday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. On Tuesday, April 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., “Queer Crafting” will take place in the McFarland Student Union (MSU) Bear’s Den, offering free snacks and supplies to decorate individual journals, buttons and scrapbooks.
On Wednesday, April 30, from 2 to 4 p.m., a picnic will be held on the Schaeffer lawn with boxed lunches, snacks and music. This peaceful gathering serves as the club’s 30th anniversary on the 30th day of April.
On Thursday, May 1, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Allies will reflect on their history during their weekly board meeting, revisiting popular events from the past years. That evening at 5 p.m., “Queer Karaoke” will be held in the Boxwood House featuring music and snacks.
To end off the week-long celebration, on Friday, May 2, Allies will host their “Blast from the Past” annual Pride Prom from 7 to 10 p.m. in MSU 218 and MSU 223. Attendees are encouraged to dress up and enjoy free food, music and a ‘90s-themed aesthetic. This event also marks the return of the popular ballroom competitions, where students can compete for medals and gift cards.
Allies president Noah Gray expressed his excitement and relief in being able to celebrate such a huge milestone anniversary. “It is thrilling to me that a club such as ours has been able to exist—and be supported—on campus for such a long time,” Gray said. “Especially in the political climate of today, where queer and trans individuals are finding themselves progressively stripped of their rights and humanity, we find it highly important to celebrate our continued presence.”
Gray also confirmed that the club plans to continue hosting key events next year, including the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” Shadow Cast, the Allies Drag Show, and the Prism Pop-Up.