Inaugural Spring Reunion and The Story of Us Premiere

Archival photos of Carolina alumni overlayed on an image of the Old Well with rainbow colors

This April, the Carolina Pride Alumni Network connected for the inaugural spring reunion and to celebrate the premiere of The Process Series’ production of The Story of Us.

Alumni members enjoyed a weekend of connections, discussion and celebration of Queer history at Carolina. The weekend kicked off with a welcome reception held at PlayMakers Repertory Company, followed by a performance of The Legend of Georgia McBride. The next morning, members enjoyed a rooftop brunch on Franklin Street and a Queer campus tour courtesy of the UNC LGBTQ Center.

The Story of Us premier and Sunday matinee were attended by a total of 400 Carolina Pride Alumni Network and community members. A culmination of collaboration among the Wilson Special Collections Library, the Southern Oral History Program and the Department of Communication, the play translated real stories of Queer experiences at UNC-Chapel Hill into a moving performance.

CPAN members were also treated to a private discussion with PhD history student and CPAN Fellow Hooper Schultz to discuss LGBTQIA+ Carolina history and how he collected the real stories that inspired The Story of Us. These stories are featured in the online exhibit Queerolina: Experiences of Place and Space Through Oral Histories, an archive of selected excerpts from interviews with LGBTQIA+ Tar Heels.

“This historic weekend was a first of its kind for UNC and LGBTQ+ Tar Heel alumni,” said CPAN President Hogan Medlin ‘11 (‘21 MBA). “We all have a story to tell, we all have something to say, and it was such a beautiful celebration of queer history and the diversity within our community dating back decades. So many people worked very hard to make this spectacular weekend happen, and I couldn’t be more grateful and proud to be in the Carolina Pride Alum Network – and we are just getting started!”