Pride Week 2025 kicked off Sunday with a full lineup of events planned throughout the week, culminating in the annual Oxford Pride Parade this Saturday.

This year’s honorary Grand Marshal is the Justice for Jay Lee community advocacy group recognized for its unwavering support of LGBTQ+ rights and its ongoing efforts to seek justice for Jay Lee, an openly gay Ole Miss student who was killed in 2022.

This year’s theme is “Defying Gravity!”

The Oxford Pride Parade will begin and end at the Oxford-University Depot on Saturday, with participants gathering at 1 p.m. and stepping off at 2 p.m. The colorful procession will travel up University Avenue, turn left onto Lamar Boulevard, circle the historic Courthouse Square, continue down Jackson Avenue, and return to the Depot.

All are invited to march or show support from the sidelines.

Following the parade, the celebration continues at Pride on the Plaza, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Ole Miss Student Union Plaza. Later that evening, the energy turns electric with the Pride Drag Show fundraiser at The Lyric, beginning at 8 p.m.—a vibrant conclusion to Saturday’s festivities.

The parade and weeklong celebration are hosted by Outgrads and the UM PRIDE Network, two organizations committed to fostering inclusivity and visibility on the University of Mississippi campus and in the broader Oxford community.

Earlier in the week, Oxford will honor LGBTQ+ students during the Annual Lavender Graduation Ceremony, held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the Ole Miss Student Union Ballroom. The ceremony celebrates the achievements and perseverance of queer students who have successfully navigated college life.

Community members can support Pride Week and year-round LGBTQ+ programming by donating to the LGBTQ Arts, Culture, and Community Development Fund via the University of Mississippi Foundation: umfoundation.com/pride.

For a full calendar of Oxford Pride events, visit: oxfordmspride.rocks/calendar-1.