We're marching with Pride!

The Pride Community Parade on Saturday is the jewel in the crown of Brighton and Hove Pride celebrations and Brighton Pride 2018 is all set to be a riot of colour, with the theme ‘Colour My World’, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the iconic rainbow flag.

For Julie Fryatt, Director of People, the city of Brighton and Pride celebrations are inextricably linked. She said: “Brighton and Hove is lucky to have such a vibrant LGBT+ community and it would not be the city we love and call home without the annual Pride celebrations.

“Being involved in its biggest event, the Pride Community Parade, is important to so many of us at the University both personally and professionally. This year we are scaling up our presence with fantastic music and even better outfits. Look out for our colourful university robes and mortar boards and give us a cheer if you see us!”

The University of Brighton is part of the Diversity Champions programme from LGBT+ charity Stonewall, which promotes inclusion in the workplace and supports and promotes fair practice in the employment and development of LGBT+ staff.

Professor Humphris said: “We are proud of our ongoing work to advance LGBT+ equality, not just within our own institution, but in the UK and internationally through our sector leading research. As well as being a long standing Stonewall Diversity Champion, we encourage research by supporting PhDs on LGB and trans issues, and have recently hosted the third annual Trans, Non-Binary and Intersex Conference alongside partners across the city. 

“We are committed to breaking down barriers and improving the experience of LGBT+ staff and students at the university. We look forward to celebrating with you over the weekend and demonstrating our visible support for this city’s wonderful LGBT+ community.”

The university’s LGBT+ staff and student societies are building on our success in last year’s Pride Parade.

Speaking about our first presence in the Community Parade during Brighton Pride 2017 Emily Brooks, Chair of the LGBT+ Staff Equality Network Group at the university said:

“Marching in the Pride Parade was such a rewarding experience. As ever there was such a great atmosphere on the day and staff and students had a fantastic time celebrating together. It is important for us to show students that they have visible LGBT+ role models at the university. We were thrilled to see the reaction from current students, graduates and members of staff past and present when they spotted us from the crowd.” 

Parker Robinson, Student Union Vice President, said: “Marching in Brighton and Hove Pride 2017 with the University of Brighton staff and student LGBT+ community was such a fantastic experience. It was great to see a unity between the two groups while celebrating our diverse queer identities and history. It is fantastic that the university proactively celebrates and promotes diversity in this way and I am excited to be taking part again this year with the staff and student societies, as well as allies and senior management.”

Follow the university’s march in the Pride Community Parade on social media - @uniofbrighton, @subrighton, @UOBLGBTplus.