“Starkville Stars” is our monthly series recognizing the members of the Starkville community seeking to make the Golden Triangle home and haven for LGBTQ+ folks! We dedicate each post to someone that has made or will make a great impact on not only Starkville, but the Golden Triangle and Mississippi as a whole. Know someone that deserves a nomination? Let us know at starkvillepride@gmail.com!
Issue #1, January 2020 - Brianna Brown
Y'all have loved the graphics this year and it's all thanks to one person, Brianna Brown! She's been on top of the game since Starkville Pride was founded, I bet you didn't know, she designed our logo! Brianna is an Architecture student at Mississippi State University who will be headed into her final year after this year’s Pride Fest! She’s been killing it with every design and we think you’ll love her gift to you when you drive down Hwy 12 this February! We love her and we know you will too! Come say “Hi!” at PrideFest 2020 on March 20th and 21st!
Issue #2, February 2020 - Yashaswin Sridhar
Check out Pride’s official photographer for Pride 2020, Yashaswin Sridhar, and give this awesome MSU student some love! He works with event photography and has expanded his range to portraits and more! Originally from Bombay, India, Yashaswin is currently a Psychology student at MSU and is hoping to work with Psychotherapy with minoritized groups in India, including LGBTQ+ people! Swipe to see some of his event photography from Pride 2019 or his IG profile to check out more of his talent!
Issue #3, March 2020 - Nelle Cohen
A Starkville legend, Nelle Cohen is a champion for LGBTQ+ rights in Mississippi! Recently invited to serve on the Advisory Board for the LGBTQ Fund of MS, Nelle believes in Good Causes and especially that there are good people in Mississippi! Nelle spreads kindness, love, and acceptance everywhere she can! If you know anything about MSU Athletics, you know Nelle is there! Her husband John Cohen makes all of Starkville proud and she’s a proud parent to Jordan and Avery and three rescues Betty, Mabel, and Cleo! We’re so happy to have Nelle here in Starkvegas and we know you will be too!
Issue #4, April 2020 - Mike Breazeale
Dr. Mike Breazeale has been a champion for Starkville Pride since its inception in the Spring of 2018. Serving first as one of our co-founders and coordinators and now the President of Starkville Pride’s Board of Directors and Sponsorship Coordinator, he’s made every effort to improve our organization as a whole. His efforts have made sure Pride can stand strong through the years and we are so appreciative for it.
Issue #5, May 2020 - Grey Garris
Did you enjoy last year’s Queer Art Market? Our Secretary, Grey Garris, has helped make it better every year since back in 2018! He has served as the Queer Art Market Coordinator for the past two years (including this one!) and currently ALSO serves as our Media Coordinator! Grey works consistently to improve the environment of his workplace, city, and Pride itself for LGBTQ+ people. Currently establishing operational plans to provide regular educational and social programming and consistent media presence throughout the year, he’s always trying to make Pride better for us all.
Issue #6, June 2020 - Kei Mamiya
Kei Mamiya currently serves as the Parade Coordinator for Starkville Pride as well as serving the students of MSU as the Assistant Director of the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center! From Yokohama, Japan, Kei is a Doctoral Student for the Public Policy and Administration program at MSU. In his position with HCDC, Kei works with International initiatives and programs as well as being the Advisor for the LGBTQ+ student organization F.L.A.R.E., being the Chair of the Safe Zone Advisory Board, and working to better the climate of MSU for LGBTQ+ students!