This summer saw the first University of Bath official Pride event. This was organised by Kaleidoscope, the staff and PGR student LGBTQIA+ group.
It was hosted in a slightly bizarre COVID setting (in a marquee in the carpark) but it certainly felt like a special event. I started working at the University 4 years ago and remember discussions with Kaleidoscope colleagues that there was a feeling of invisibility at Bath, and that the LGBTQIA+ community was not acknowledged, let alone celebrated. The hard work, creativity and tenacity of these colleagues and students, supported by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team, has led to visible and meaningful change at the University - and we certainly didn't feel invisible today!
I have had many conversation about why Pride is important, and why it needs to be 'a whole month'. Let me give you one example: a married couple I know never hold hands in public, ever. This is for fear of verbal abuse in the street. This is a learnt experience from years of homophobic abuse, including serious physical assaults, in the street, just for existing.
If you can go for dinner with your partner, hold hands with your partner without facing abuse, talk about your relationship or family at work without worrying about the reaction, and if you are not beaten for who you love - then you are experiencing the privilege associated with being straight. And that's okay, that's great! What Be The Change is about is using the energy that you've saved by having that particular privilege to provide allyship to those who don't; this time in the LGBTQIA+ community. Check out the LGBTQIA+ and Trans Ally guides on our webpages for more information.
Visibility and celebration of queer culture, in part through Pride events, has helped to drive change in the UK. Holding a Pride event on campus was so important to students and staff, to feel accepted and celebrated, and to hear the The University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Ian White advocate for change.
I'm really genuinely proud of the work of colleagues in kaleidoscope have put in to make this happen. I'm proud of the Student Services department for completing a day of training focussed on supporting LGBTQIA+ student (and festooning all of 4 West with flags), I'm proud of the University for hosting this event and for all of the staff and students who took part, and for all of the other work that happened at Bath this pride month.
Did you know...
- It is illegal in the UK to discriminate against someone because of their sexuality or gender.
- Same-sex marriage is legal and LGBTQIA+ folk can adopt children and raise families.
- Crimes motivated by hostility based on sexuality or transgender status are illegal in the UK - and yet they still happen.
- One in five LGBT people have experienced a hate crime or incident because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity in the last 12 months.
- Two in five trans people have experienced a hate crime or incident because of their gender identity in the last 12 months.
- Four in five anti-LGBT hate crimes and incidents go unreported, with younger LGBT people particularly reluctant to go to the police
And globally...
- Same-sex mariage is only recognised in 28 countries
- Homosexuality is illegal in 69 countries
- You can still be killed, by the state, for homosexuality in 6 countries.
Want to do more?
As well as the training outlined above, you can pop in to the 4 West Student Services helpdesk on campus and pick up a rainbow lanyard, pronoun badges and Be The Change badges to show your allyship to the University community.
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