Southampton Pride took place on Saturday 24 August with over 12,000 people descending into the city to support the local LGBT+ community.
As one of the event’s official sponsors, ensuring that Southampton Pride remains free entry, our University’s colleagues, students, and alumni came together in their rainbow-clad droves to march in the parade and get involved in all of the Pride related activities that the event had to offer.
The Pulse LGBT+ Staff network and the Bringing Research to Life Roadshow set up a tent in Guildhall Square for Pride attendees to find out more about what we do at the University. The Staff Network provided information on the efforts to promote diversity, and the roadshow set up three hands-on family activities to show the broad range of research performed at the University.
Dr Sam Berry and Andrew Landells, Co-chairs Pulse LGBT+ Staff Network said:
“We were absolutely delighted to be an official sponsor of Southampton Pride this year and it was amazing to see Southampton’s support for the LGBT+ community. Pride is essential for LGBT+ people, where the local support for LGBT+ rights and issues becomes highly visible. Marching with the SUSU LGBT+ society and representing the University alongside the Bringing Research to Life Roadshow was a truly enjoyable experience and demonstrates our solidarity in supporting the wider LGBT+ community in addition to our members.”
Our students and staff, marching together as it should be at #SouthamptonPride @UoSLGBT @unisouthampton pic.twitter.com/jWR0CBRM61
— University of Southampton LGBTQ+ Society (@Soton_LGBT) August 24, 2019
Kestral Gaian, President of the student LGBT+ Society commented:
“Fifty years ago Marsha P. Johnson and other trans women of colour led the march into LGBT+ equality, and we’re proud that students and staff from the University of Southampton continue to carry that torch by taking part in our local Pride. We stand firm in our celebration and protection of all LGBT+ students on campus, and know that the passion and positivity from this vibrant event will stay with us all year long.”
Staff and students can get involved with our University’s LGBT+ community via the links below:
Find out more about our University’s diversity policies here.
