The LGBTQIA+ Community Welcome event will be hosted Tuesday, Aug. 21 in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union from 6 to 8 p.m.

Last year, around 425 to 450 attended according to Brad Freihoefer, the director of The Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success.

“The welcome event has taken place almost every year I have been here,” Freihoefer said. “Each year it has changed a little bit and the way we have done it right now, I think we have been doing it this format for about two or three years, but it’s been in some shape or form it has occurred in at least my 10 years here.” 

In previous years, the event has been in a variety of places including in front of the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center and in State Gym.

“The Great Hall is a good space, the way we do it now it’s a really good space for that,” Freihoefer said.

Hosted by The Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the event will allow students to “meet new and returning students, grab some snacks, play some games (with those new friends), dance, add to our community mural and bring your instagram for a new and unique selfie opportunity for the LGBTQIA+ community,” according to the event page.

There will be speed mingling, games of all types, a gallery walk, a mural for people to contribute to, music and dancing and the largest pride flag at Iowa State will be present for selfies and information about future events, Freihoefer said.

“This is a really important opportunity for students to meet each other, to come and connect with each other, to meet somebody new, and to just have some fun and to get connected with different members of the LGBTQIA+ community,” Freihoefer said, “some are involved with organizations, some are volunteers but just a space where you can kind of get involved and be yourself.”

The event is open to everyone.

“We want to encourage folks to come and have fun,” Freihoefer said. “There are so many different little events happening in the event. It’s a great chance to meet other folks.”