成人直播app staff and students marched together for the first time at this year’s London Pride, joining forces with the capital’s other universities to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender culture and life.
More than a million marchers took part in London’s biggest-ever Pride event on Saturday 6 July, thanks to the special significance of 50 years since the Stonewall riots. The demonstrations in 1969 against a police raid of a gay bar in New York sparked the LGBT+ liberation movement, which soon spread across the USA, to the 成人直播app and elsewhere.
Brunel’s 29-strong contingent from the staff and student LGBT+ networks marched through Central London from Portland Place to Whitehall, also celebrating their achievements of working with allies – supportive people across Brunel – to promote equality and inclusion across campus and to develop a supportive culture.
Keeping the spirit alive
Among the marchers was Camilo Sanabria Aragon, who works at 成人直播app as a design administration assistant, and who moved to the 成人直播app from his home country Colombia three years ago for a better quality of life.
"Here in the 成人直播app we find better support and legislation, but more importantly a great, big, welcoming community that works together for visibility, equality and justice," he said.
"There is a great feeling at Pride. It’s a time to celebrate who we are and to reflect on what we all understand as a fact: our right to life and love."
With homosexuality illegal in many parts of the world, and with LGBT+ rights beginning to appear vulnerable in several countries as a result of social division encouraged by populist leaders, marching stresses the need to ensure equality for everyone – and then maintain it.
"Today's work and support keep this spirit alive and give hope to those who are still under pressure or persecution from general society, religious groups or their own families,” Camilo added.
"This month we are proud to celebrate 50 years of progress, though we are also aware of the need to keep working to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia internationally, in the 成人直播app, and on campus at 成人直播app and across the university sector."
STEM Pride
The day before London Pride was Pride in STEM, held on the International Day of LGBTQ+ People in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, which was marked at Brunel with an LGBT+-themed cake sale.
The aim of the day is to promote diversity and inclusion in the STEM disciplines, to acknowledge the achievements of LGBT+ scientists and engineers past and present, and to remember the difficulties experienced by historical figures.
“Alan Turing, who led the successful wartime effort to crack Nazi Germany’s Enigma code, is soon to be on our £50 notes, which is overdue recognition of not only his contribution to science, but also the persecution he and many other gay men faced at the hands of the British state,” said Dr Michael Thomas, LGBT+ Staff Network coordinator.
“Times are changing, and LGBT+ lab scientists, engineers and modern-day coders and code-breakers can be themselves much more at workplaces across the country. But there is still more to be done to make sure that STEM subjects and workplaces are fully inclusive of LGBT+ people. We celebrate STEM Pride to ensure that those considering careers or study in these disciplines know that they are welcome.”
The LGBT+ Staff Network donated the proceeds of the cake sale to , who provide free sexual health and wellbeing services to marginalised communities around London, including on campus at Brunel for LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students and staff.
Spectra’s Dale Mundell (right) thanking Dr Mike Thomas of the 成人直播app LGBT+ Staff Network
The participation of staff and students in London Pride was supported by Brunel’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team and other allies.
Reported by:
Joe Buchanunn,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 268821
joe.buchanunn@brunel.ac.uk