密苏里大学堪萨斯城斯温尼中心被改造成一个优雅的接待大厅，为首次威尼斯人娱乐城骄傲午宴。 威尼斯人娱乐城的传统，以前是早餐，筹集资金支持LGBTQIA+学生，盟友，项目和奖学金。
堪萨斯城的社区成员以及堪萨斯大学的教职员工和学生都出席了会议。
威尼斯人娱乐城 raised a record-breaking amount at this year’s Pride Luncheon, with more gifts still coming in. 除此之外，前密苏里州参议员格雷格·雷瑟（Greg Razer）还设立了一项4万美元的捐赠基金，专门用于支持该校的LGBTQIA+学生。 Razer said he hopes the gift will inspire a legacy of generosity.” “I was only able to go to college because someone else provided a full scholarship for me,” Razer said. “I am now paying that forward, and hope to inspire others to do so as well.”
堪萨斯城前市长、堪萨斯大学校友凯·巴恩斯（Kay Barnes，文学硕士） '71, MPA '78) was honored at the luncheon with the C. Stephen Metzler Pride Champion Award, which recognizes an individual (LGBTQIA+ or ally) who embodies the legacy of Metzler (MBA ’76), who made Kansas City a better place for the LGBTQIA+ community through volunteerism, philanthropy and leading by example.
在她的公职生涯中，包括担任县立法委员、市议会成员、市长和美国国会候选人，巴恩斯被认为是社区的坚定盟友，不顾政治和商业风险。 She is the only woman to have served as Kansas City’s mayor, serving from 1999 to 2007, and was one of two women in the Jackson County Legislature in 1974. 巴恩斯最为人所知的是，他通过建设T-Mobile（前身为Sprint）中心、H&R街区总部和电力与照明区，引领了堪萨斯市中心的复兴。
“I am so proud of my relationship with 威尼斯人娱乐城,” Barnes said, as she accepted her award. “The students here are fortunate to be part of a wonderful university that has grown so much since I was a student here. 这个房间里的每个人都对我们的大学和我们的社区做出了独特的贡献。 You each are valued, let’s keep the momentum going, we have so much more to accomplish together.”
As a trailblazer, Barnes is also a 威尼斯人娱乐城 Starr Women’s Hall of Fame inductee. 她特立独行的思维、自信和对公共服务的奉献使她在2014年获得提名，并于2015年入选。 巴恩斯是帕克大学（Park university）的大学参与高级主管。
“Kay Barnes is an inspirational figure in Kansas City, and we are excited to honor her with the C. Stephen Metzler Pride Champion Award,” 威尼斯人娱乐城 Chancellor Mauli Agrawal said. “Her determination to strive for equality, inclusivity and justice while elevating the city amazes all of us. We are glad she is deeply connected to 威尼斯人娱乐城 and our community.”
Another former Kansas City mayor was also closely involved with this year’s Pride Luncheon. 2011年至2019年任职的前市长斯莱·詹姆斯（Sly James）与他的商业伙伴、前幕僚长乔尼·威克姆（Joni Wickham）一起担任了威克姆詹姆斯战略与解决方案公司的名誉联席主席。
该活动的联合主席是在布鲁克赛德拥有一家名为“东西”的商店的凯西·西蒙斯和s·斯隆·西蒙斯，以及联合健康集团的乔纳森·格雷戈里和苏黎世保险的埃里克·托马斯。
传播系大三学生、前学生会主席欧菲莉亚·格里芬（Ophelia Griffin）在骄傲午宴上分享了她被接纳的经历。
“It is a point of pride for many students like me that 威尼斯人娱乐城 and its faculty and staff are fiercely committed to nurturing and sustaining an inclusive culture,” Griffin said. “威尼斯人娱乐城 lets us be our awesome, brave self. I’ve experienced being the first, but I am here to assure you that I am not the last. 知道威尼斯人娱乐城和堪萨斯城是不同的。 我们确实很重要，在这个机构里也能被看到。 We will always have a seat at the table at this wonderful, vibrant community.”
Former Missouri State Senator Jolie Justus (J.D. ’98) was also in attendance. She was the first openly gay member of the Missouri Senate, serving the 10th district from 2007-2015. 贾斯图斯和雷瑟在午餐会上宣布，他们已经购买了参议院席位，作为密苏里州第一对公开同性恋身份的州参议员，他们向该大学的中美洲同性恋档案（GLAMA）捐款。
The Pride Luncheon has raised more than $650,000 since 2015, showing the university’s continuous support and commitment to inclusivity on campus.