Six bands of confectionary were vibrant in the bright sunlight as Shippensburg University’s students advocating for equality (SAFE) gave away free cupcakes to promote lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) awareness.
Cupcakes with frosting and cake in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple formed a rainbow on a table outside the library Thursday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. There was a poster taped to the front of the table with information about LGBT history month, which is October, and national coming out day, which is Oct. 11.
According to SAFE Vice President Olivia Hunt, Chartwells, SU’s campus dining service, donated the cupcakes and set up the installation for SAFE.
The cupcakes were arranged in a rainbow as a symbol of the LGBT community, Hunt said.
“It’s flashy and it’s fun,” Hunt said.
One of the SAFE’s goals is to spread awareness.
“We’re students advocating for equality, so basically we’re just trying to spread awareness for the LGBT movement,” Hunt said.
“There’s people everywhere who identify as LGBT, and it’s important to accept us even if you’re not part of the movement yourself,” Hunt said.
An underlying message of acceptance and freedom is also important to SAFE, according to Hunt.
“There’s a lot of discrimination that’s still going on. Even if it isn’t overt, there are still a lot of subtle things. I think that’s one of the reasons we exist, we support each other.”
In addition to the free cupcakes, free hot chocolate was available at the event. Some social work students were also there providing materials for students to make bracelets at no cost.
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