The University of South Florida Polytechnic Pride Awareness Committee will hold a Pride 2009 celebration June 17 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Timed to coincide with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, the event features "Pupa," a photo show by Gregory Slimko, and "Contentedly Quirky," a one-man show by Jared O'Roark. Admission is free and the public is invited.

According to O'Roark, "Contentedly Quirky" uses unexpected characters to explore issues of contemporary life like lost love, betrayal and life's quirks.

In "Pupa," Slimko tackles issues of gender and sexual identity, isolation, abuse, healing and forgiveness, and transformation.

The event begins with a series of short films from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the Lakeland Technology Building Auditorium (see list below). They are presented by Celebrating Life in Pictures (CLIPS), which puts on the annual International Gay and Film Festival in Tampa. "Pupa" can be viewed from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. in the Lakeland Technology Building Art Gallery. "Contentedly Quirky" takes place in the same location from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

According to Susan Hurley, counseling specialist and Pride Awareness Committee chair, "The purpose of this event is to increase awareness and understanding for the campus and Polk County and to develop an inclusive environment for the campus where everyone feels welcome. Regardless of color of skin, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation, USF Polytechnic is a campus community which appreciates and supports all diversity."

USF Polytechnic is located at 3433 Winter Lake Rd., Lakeland. For more information contact Pride Awareness Committee member Sal Torres at (863) 667-7086 or storres@poly.usf.edu.

List of short films to be shown:

• "Hold up" (7 minutes, 2005). A robber is after more than money at a local convenience store. USA
  
  
• "The Police Box" (7 minutes, 2007). A girl writes love letters to a policeman and puts them in a police box on his beat. One day a jealous boy sees her tampering with the box and decides to play a trick on the two. Hong Kong. Cantonese with English sub-titles
  
  
• "Out Running: Stories from the Campaign Trail" (22 minutes, 2006): The stories of Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth, Oregon Supreme Court Justice Virginia Linder and Iowa State Senator Matt McCoy exemplify the rising presence of openly gay people in public office. USA
  
  
• "Legacy" (17 minutes, 2006).  A sumptuous exploration of the legacy of slavery on mother-daughter relationships in African-Caribbean culture. Trinidad and Tobago/United Kingdom
  
  
• "Eddie" (10 minutes, 2007). A young and awkward tomboy struggles to bond with another girl and stands up for her at an embarrassing moment. But when the humiliation is turned against her, she realizes how much standing up is really worth. USA
  
  
• "Running Seasons" (6 minutes, 2007). An animated black-and-white film with limited sound depicting the changes of a young boy. USA
  
  
• "The Manual" (16 minutes, 2006). Sonny, an eight-year-old boy, is sent away from home because his father believes he has characteristics that could lead to homosexuality. After 24 years of treatment and psychiatric institutions, Sonny returns home for a funeral, and attempts to save his seven-year-old niece from a similar fate. Australia
  
  
• "Filled with Water" (5 minutes, 2007). A journey to self-healing, this animated film symbolizes the destruction of a relationship through alcoholism while using abstract visual language to allow the viewer to arrive at his or her own interpretation. (PG-13) Australia