Celebrating Pride Month at Teesside University

Marking the beginning of Pride Month, Teesside University hosted an Intersectional Wellbeing Pride festival to celebrate diversity and develop its inclusive campus.

University staff and students were joined by members of the public for the event, along with a wide range of special guests.

Fifty stalls representing local businesses, organisations, support services, charities and societies took over Teesside University’s Students’ Union in Campus Heart.

An exciting array of performers, including singers, artists and poets, entertained more than 500 attendees throughout the day and night.

Student nurse Mac McClelland, winner of Teesside University’s LGBTQ+ History Month creative writing competition, also delivered a reading of their work.

Jointly organised by the University’s Equality and Diversity focus groups, which comprise members of staff from across the University community, the festival was arranged to celebrate Pride, highlight wellbeing and promote a sense of belonging.

The LGBTQ+, Gender, Disability, Ethnic and Cultural Diversity, and Faith and Belief focus groups represent protected characteristics and influence positive change.

Vik Brown, Chair of the LGBTQ+ focus group at Teesside University, said: “We were thrilled to welcome so many people to our Intersectional Wellbeing Pride event. After a hugely successful festival last year, it was fantastic to come back even bigger and better.

“There was so much for everybody to enjoy, safe in the knowledge that they could embrace their authentic selves in an accepting and fun environment.

“We were also proud to deliver this event in collaboration with the other focus groups. This coming together truly underpinned the value of collaboration within our university community and beyond.”

The festival was part of a wider programme of activities which will be taking place on campus, including various staff and student support sessions and a follow-up wellbeing event during Freshers’ Week.

Juliet Amos, Executive Director of Human Resources and LGBTQ+ Equality and Diversity Champion, added: “Here at Teesside University, we pride ourselves on our dedication to LGBTQ+ inclusion. It is a year-round commitment which extends long past Pride Month.”

If you missed the Intersectional Wellbeing Pride event, which took place on Thursday 30 May, you can watch the video on YouTube.

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