What is Pride?
Each year, Pride is celebrated across the world as a celebration of the development of LGBTQ+ rights, as well as a protest to demand equality for LGBTQ+ citizens globally. Pride origins can be traced back well in to the 20th Century, however it is widely accepted that the first Pride parade took place in June 1970 in New York on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. This quickly spread across the US, and the world, and the first UK Pride was hosted in London on the 1 July 1972.
Why do we still celebrate Pride?
Despite progress being made within LGBTQ+ rights, Pride is still needed today as much as it ever has been.
- Over 30,000 reported hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people in the UK in 2021 – 2022. (However, the real number of actual hate crimes is likely to be much higher due to a low reporting rate)
- Being LGBTQ+ is illegal in over 64 countries. This is over 1/3rd of the world. However, being LGBTQ+ still received the death penalty in over 11 countries.
- Same-sex marriage is only legal in 33 countries. This is only 1/6th of the world.
- There is a rise in anti-LGBT+ identities around the world, which can be prevalently seen in the US with an increase number of anti-drag and anti-trans legislation being passed, and in the UK, specifically in London, through protests against events such as Drag Queen Story Hour at the Honor Oak Pub.
Although it is undeniable that progress has been made in the past 50 years, Pride is still important, and will forever be important until LGBTQ+ are not at risk globally for being themselves.
Pride at Greenwich
Equality, diversity and inclusivity are important to us at the university, and we are committed to a programme of action to overcome barriers to representation and inclusion through our university strategy. We are a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme and recognise the importance of the LGBT+ Staff Community, Women’s Staff Network, allies and the wider community in promoting LGBT+ equality and acting as agents of change at the university.
This year we will celebrate Pride in style as University of Greenwich has been awarded Gold Stonewall accreditation, named 20th in Stonewalls Top 100 index and 2nd in the Higher Education Sector.
This month we both look back at our achievements so far and ahead to chart how we will become sector leading in LGBT+ inclusion. Throughout June we will be sharing our achievements as a university community and will put out a call to action on what more can be done.
We recognise that there is more to be done to achieve cultural change for inclusion across the university community and ensure that the university is itself a vehicle for positive social change.
How is the University celebrating Pride?
The LGBT+ Staff Community have a whole host of events to be announced soon.
Check back here for details that you will not want to miss!
If you would like to join UoG and march in the Pride in London Parade on Saturday 1 July, please register here.
