Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
City-wide Pride
Now in its tenth year, Leeds LGBT Pride has grown in stature and boasts live shows, events and a city-wide parade to celebrate worldwide love, equality, sexuality and gender.
As active champions of Stonewalls’ Diversity Programme and currently ranked 64th out of 100 British employers in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, Leeds Beckett is once again delighted to be supporting this event and are inviting anyone interested - lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, straight, partners, families, friends, students and staff - to get involved. If you would like to join us please email Soniya Zeb at equality@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
Andrew P Disbury, Rainbow Rose Forum Senior Champion, said: “Milestones like Leeds Pride are great opportunities for us to demonstrate our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion for all our staff and students.
“This year will see our largest ever walking float, with staff and students marching proudly side-by-side to show how much we value our position as a large education institution and a large employer in our city. As well as members of the Rainbow Rose community, staff and student allies will come out to support Leeds Pride, along with our families, friends, and anyone else who wants to join in along the route!
“At Pride and throughout the year, we are working to open everyone’s minds to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and to open doors for all!”
Co-Chair of Leeds Beckett’s Rainbow Rose group and Student Voice Manager, Michael Austin, commented: “I’m proud to work for an employer, and alongside students and colleagues in both the University and Students’ Union, who make an active commitment to improving the lives of LGBT people.
“Pride is a time for everyone, however you identify, to come together and show your support for your friends, family and colleagues so I urge all staff and students to join us at the Leeds Pride march”.
Leeds Beckett alumnus, Marc Almond, will be headlining the Parade Stage in Millennium Square where the entertainment starts at 12 noon. The parade will start in Millennium Square at 14:00 and come to an end on Lower Briggate in the heart of the Leeds LGBT Scene. We’re inviting all those taking part to meet at the Leslie Silver Library entrance at 13.00 to collect their Pride t-shirts and balloons. Full details of the day, including timings, line-up and parade route are available at www.leedspride.com.
Michael Anderson, Co-Chair of Leeds Beckett’s Rainbow Rose group and Project Support Officer for Strategic Planning Support Service, added: “I’m really looking forward to my first Pride march with Leeds Beckett University. We are fortunate to be able to celebrate our diversity in Leeds as so many others aren’t able to worldwide”.
Speaking about last year’s event, Alison Munn, Principal Lecturer in Computing, Creative Technologies and Engineering, said: “A fantastic day and very proud to be there with Leeds Beckett. The crowds along the march were amazing, so involved and so incredibly supportive. I have never seen Leeds city centre heaving like that! A lovely atmosphere all around.”
To be kept up-to-date with all University LGBTQ* news and events follow @RainbowRose2014 on Twitter.