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The University of Utah launched its annual Pride Week on Wednesday, kicking off nine days of events that feature photographer Jeff Sheng and fashion designer Sky Cubacub.

Photography from Sheng's Fearless Project, a collection of portraits of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletes, will be exhibited in the main lobby of the Olpin Union building through Oct. 6.

Sheng, who describes himself as a former closeted high school athlete, will also be available to photograph Utah LGBT athletes. Appointments can be scheduled by emailing university events specialist Estela Hernandez at estela.hernandez@utah.edu.

Other events include a performance by Cubacub, founder of the gender nonconforming fashion line Rebirth Garments, two lecture discussions with Brown Boi Project Executive Director B. Cole and a panel discussion on safe spaces, sponsored by the Hinckley Institute of Politics.

The theme for this year's Pride Week is "Queering Safe Spaces." In a news release, Pride Week committee co-chairwoman Kim Hackford-Peer said the theme is an invitation to critically engage with assumptions about the University of Utah campus and the efforts by students, faculty and administrators to maintain safe spaces.

"We hope to expand our individual and collective thinking about what safe spaces exist," Hackford-Peer said. "What do they promise to provide? What are their limits? And how can we do better?"

More information on Pride Week, including contact information and a full schedule of events, is available at unews.utah.edu.

Twitter: @bjaminwood