Pride Month starts today and is an annual month-long celebration to call for greater unity, visibility and equality for the LGBT+ community. In June 1970, the first pride marked the anniversary of the uprising at New York’s Stonewall Inn, famously known as the Stonewall Riots.
If you are a member of the LGBT+ community or an ally, here are some ways to get involved throughout the month and beyond to support and celebrate our LGBT+ community:
Paid opportunity: online workshop
The John Hansard Gallery are seeking participants for a series of online workshops led by Tentacular Spectacular, a touring theatrical show that stages the work of trans-drag artists. This workshop is appropriate for those interested (or curious) in drag, post-humanism, digital performance-making and image-making. Participants will be paid £100 per workshop.
Please complete the Virtual Pride Open Call online form by 17:00 on Sunday 4 June 2023 to register your interest.
Party in the park: Saturday 3 June and Sunday 4 June, from 11:00
Party in the park is a free community-run event with performers, stalls and workshops at Palmerston Park. The march will be on Saturday 3 June, starting at Queen’s Park from 10:45.
Check out this webpage for more information about party in the park delivered by People’s Pride.
Bona Polari! Polari writing workshop: Tuesday 27 June, 12:30-13:30
Spoken in the theatre, navy and by the criminal underworld, incorporating Italinate, Romany, Irish, Cockney and Yiddish. ‘Polari’ was a secret language used by the LGBT+ community to chat and gossip in public.
‘Bona Polari!’ meaning ‘good chat’ introduces Polari slang and is a chance to take part in a creative writing exercise, using Polari at its base to develop skills in sharing your writing in an informal and fun way.
Pride picnic: Thursday 29 June, 12:00-14:00
Students and staff are welcome to join the PULSE LGBT+ staff network for their annual picnic, a chance for the LGBT+ community and allies to get together. Bring your lunch and an optional blanket to join other members of the PULSE network for a social get-together. This year’s picnic will be held on the lawn behind the Hartley Library and in front of the Lanchester Building.
Visit this Equality, Diversity and Inclusion SharePoint page to find out more about the Pride picnic.
Southampton Pride 2023: Saturday 26 August
Visit the official website to discover what’s on for this year’s return of Southampton Pride in August.
Toolkits
- Have a look at the library’s LGBT+ collection
- Read the guide to using LGBT+ inclusive language
- Check out the guide on the use of pronouns