Painting the Town Rainbow: UNIfied at Pride

Written by EDI Ambassador Clem Atkins

If you visited Birmingham City Centre over Pride weekend (Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 May), the dazzling glitter and glamour of this year’s Pride festivities were hard to miss. The city welcomed back its beloved Birmingham Pride weekend for the 27th year running. Saturday’s events featured tens of thousands of participants and an estimated 75,000 spectators across the weekend. The march through the city and subsequent celebrations were dedicated to celebrating the strength, history and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community in Birmingham and beyond.

Amongst the huge crowds of participants, students, staff, family and friends, allies, and supporters from  seven local universities across the West Midlands, representing the UNIfied at Pride group, were amongst those leading the march. The group is a collaboration between Aston University, Birmingham City University, Birmingham Newman University, University College Birmingham, University of Birmingham, University of Law and University of Wolverhampton to form the sectoral contingent at the Birmingham Pride Parade and  demonstrates our commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and inclusivity in higher education. We saw up to 500 members gathering together to take part in the parade. Carrying banners, balloon displays and flags – including the Pride’s official Transgender Flag, we marched together whilstothers took an accessibility bus to the march’s destination, The Gay Village, where participants accumulated at the end of the parade for a street party.

At Pride, members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies from all walks of life celebrate together. When we took to marching, many spectators were excited to see their universities represented amongst the floats and marching crowds, cheering and calling out as the procession made its way down New Street. It was incredible to see so many people able to walk down the streets of Birmingham expressing themselves loudly, proudly and authentically. In addition, many individuals used the visibility of the event as an opportunity to advocate for people and causes close to their hearts.

For many young people, coming to university might be one of the first times they are really able to explore or be open about aspects of their identity. You can read about my experience embracing my authentic self here. Although moving to a new community may be daunting, universities provide vital spaces to meet others, share ideas and form communities. This is why it is so important for academic institutions to support Pride; their involvement sends a clear message to our current and future students that members of the LGBTQ+ community are seen, welcome, and celebrated in Birmingham’s campuses. It also lets students know that they can always find solidarity in the student and staff communities across Birmingham.

If you missed out on Birmingham Pride, be sure to join us next year as we paint the town rainbow (loudly and proudly) once again!