For its 2022 Transgender Week of Visibility, Winthrop’s Sexuality and Gender Equality club partnered with the campus Starbucks through Sodexo to create Winthrop’s exclusive, limited-time Pride & Joy drink: A frappuccino with strawberry cream, coconut milk, mocha cold foam and pink sprinkles.
“I have a whole Pinterest folder on drinks I would like to try,” said B Ray, the social marketing executive for SAGE. “I saw a strawberry frappuccino with mocha cold foam, and I thought it would be a perfect fruity drink for the week.”
SAGE is a student organization fighting for queer rights on campuses, and the Pride & Joy drink campaign was a part of its outreach program at Winthrop, and just one of the many events that went on during the week of March 28 through April 1, which focused on highlighting community, art, love, achievement and joy in the trans community. Some activities included discussing local resources for trans folk and allies, a cultural event, as well as a social.
“It was incredible that Winthrop Dining Services went from an idea to fully approved drink in one day,” said Oliver Taylor, former co-president of SAGE. “I am so proud of them, they came up with and did all the promotions.”
“The amount of support we received and the amount of trans people we connected with have been more than we could ever imagine, and the Transgender Day of Visibility showed Winthrop trans people exist on this campus and can and do have pride and joy.”
The theme for this year’s week was “Trans Joy is Resistance,” a quote from transgender artist Mars Wright, focusing on the idea that just by practicing joy and expressing their love, queer people reject the cisheteronormative restrictions that others may try and place on them.
“Being transgender is something to celebrate, and the trans community at Winthrop is more capable than anyone ever thought,” Taylor said.
SAGE reports that the Transgender Week of Visibility was incredibly successful.
“This was the first event of its kind here at Winthrop. The committee of SAGE is of and for the trans community, not even just here at Winthrop, but for all colleges in South Carolina,” Taylor said. “This is the first week of trans celebration by trans people.”
Some upcoming events for SAGE include an intersectional cultural event in collaboration with the NAACP, as well as more week-long pride events in the fall and spring semesters of the upcoming academic year.
