University of Bristol supports Pride 2019

Staff and students at last year's Bristol Pride Parade University of Bristol

Press release issued: 2 July 2019

It’s that time of year again when staff and students are united together for Bristol Pride, an annual celebration of inclusivity in our city and a positive stance against discrimination.

The festival kicked off on Monday this week and runs until Sunday 14 July.

On Pride Day itself (Saturday 13 July), staff and students will join together to take part in the Pride Parade March in a show of solidarity and to enjoy this year's festivities together.

This year the University is a lead sponsor and is providing a shuttle bus service from the City Centre to the Downs (where the party after the Parade is taking place), so everyone can enjoy the day.

Staff and students are welcome to join the University on the Pride Parade. The meeting point is at Castle Park at 10am – departing at 10.45am – at concourse next to St Peter's Church, near the junction of Wine Street and Newgate.

All staff and students are encouraged to wear their rainbow lanyards or Pride T-shirts.

The parade will go through the City Centre and ends at Millennium Square. Buses will then transport people to the Downs for the rest of the festival. The University will also have a stall at the Downs.

An incredible 12,000 people joined the Bristol parade last year as a bold statement for equality and diversity, to celebrate the LGBT+ community and to show that hatred and prejudice has no place in our city, or anywhere.

Bristol Pride Festival on the Downs is open from 12 noon and is one of the largest free Pride festivals in the UK. There is an amazing line-up including music and performances, community and family areas, silent disco, bars, food, markets and lots more.

Full details about the parade and the festival at the Downs can be found on the Bristol Pride website.

Bristol Pride also run two weeks of events from the 28 June -14 July, visit the Bristol Pride events page for all the 2019 listings.

If you identify as LGBT+, find out more about our LGBT+ Staff Network and get involved to meet new people. Read the latest LGBT+ Staff Network blog and join the LGBT+ Supporters Programme.

For more information and any questions please contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team at diversity-inclusion@bristol.ac.uk You can also check out our web pages, find us on Twitter and join the F acebook event.

Robert Kerse, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Champion, LGBT+ Staff Network at the University of Bristol, said: “Pride is an amazing celebration of the LGBT+ community.

“We are really happy to be sponsoring the shuttle bus service to The Downs for this year’s Pride Day. I know everyone is really excited about the new bigger venue and we’re pleased that we can help people get to and from the festivities.”

Suzanne Doyle, Co-Chair of the University’s LGBT+ Staff Network added: “The LGBT+ Staff Network works with the University to ensure Pride is a key event in the University calendar.

“The Network is growing from strength to strength and uniting with students at Pride and marching together in solidarity to celebrate the LGBT+ community here at the University, is such a highlight for me.

“The Network and Committee have worked hard this year, alongside the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Team at the University, where they launched the LGBT+ Supporters network.

“It is always great to see hundreds of supporters joining us on Pride day to demonstrate their commitment to achieving equity for LGBT+ people so please come along and support Pride, support your colleagues, managers, and friends. Everyone is welcome.”