We are really pleased to be lighting up the iconic Victoria Rooms again in the Pride rainbow colours until the end of the festival on 15 July. This was incredibly popular last year with visitors being encouraged to take photos and share on social media using #BristolPride.
Amelia Pereira, Trans representative for the University’s LGBT+ Staff Network and Teaching Labs Technician for the School of Chemistry, said: “When I first applied to work at the University of Bristol, one of the first images to greet me on the website was one of the Wills Building lit up in the colours of the Pride flag.
“This made me feel excited to start contributing to an organisation that so openly and beautifully displayed their support of the LGBT+ community and I feel proud to work for such an open, diverse and inclusive company.
“The displaying of the Pride colours on such a prominent location as the Victoria Rooms is fantastic image as it shows the University's allegiance to the LGBT+ community and that the University is a safe and welcome place for all people, regardless of gender or sexuality.
“For LGBT+ people who may not be ‘out of the closet’ yet, seeing a display of Pride colours at the organisation they work at can help remind them that they will accepted and encouraged to be themselves if or when they decide to come out.
“I fly my blue, pink and white transgender flag permanently in the School of Chemistry where I am based as a reminder to colleagues, students and most importantly, anyone who might be struggling with gender dysphoria that the University is a safe and welcoming place.
“I have also started to encourage other LGBT+/allied members of staff to display their own flags in their places of work for the same reasons.”
This year for the first time, the University is sponsoring the Pride Dog Show which takes place in Castle Park on Saturday 7 July – registration from 12noon with the event starting at 12.30pm. In recent years, the show whose categories include fanciest coat, proudest pet and waggiest tail has become a real highlight of the festival. It’s free to watch but £2 to enter a dog.
Ahead of the Pride Day Parade, our staff and student LGBT+ network and societies will be holding a banner workshop from 12noon-2pm on Friday 6 July at the Odlum Room in the Students’ Union Building. Paints etc will be provided but please bring any extras along and any extra card/cardboard.
On Saturday 14 July, our LGBT+ Staff Network, LGBT+ Student Society, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Team and Bristol Students’ Union will be taking part in the parade and running a stall at the event in Millennium Square.
All staff and students and welcome to attend and support the event. If you wish to join the march, please meet the team at St Stephen’s Church in Castle Park to leave at 11am. Free Pride-themed T-shirts will be available from 10am, on a first-come-first-served basis.
Please feel free to wear Rainbow colours, the brighter, the better! For further info on joining the march or helping at the stall contact simon.gamble@bristol.ac.uk
Bristol Pride has been named in the list of Top 50 Pride Destinations in the world, being one of only 4 in the UK to make the cut. More info for all Pride events - http://bristolpride.co.uk/