Brunel University London marked LGBT History Month with a flag-raising ceremony led by the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Julia Buckingham CBE.
Staff and students gathered at the Kingston Lane entrance on Thursday 7 February to welcome the visible display of solidarity with the LGBT community.
“Having these flags at the entrance to our campus really says a lot to the local population about how passionately we feel about this,” said Prof Buckingham.
LGBT History Month is a nationwide, month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements.
Prof Buckingham reflected on how much society has changed since Brunel was founded in 1966 – and how much Brunel has changed, too. “I think we’ve done a huge amount in the University. LGBT staff and students are much more visible, and LGBT features in our teaching and in our research.
“But I don’t want us to be complacent in any way about this. Any form of discrimination is hateful, and I want us to move forward in a positive way to embrace diversity in the very broadest sense of the word.”
She raised the Trans Pride flag alongside the Bi Pride flag, joining the LGBT Pride rainbow flags that have been flying since the beginning of February.
The event-filled month includes Brunel’s first LGBT Pride March and an LGBT-themed research showcase. “It’s all part of our agenda for making this the most diverse and inclusive university that we could possibly be,” added Prof Buckingham.
The events are spearheaded by the student-run
LGBTA+ Society – led by Finn Grice, the Union of Brunel Students’ LGBT Officer – working together with the LGBT Staff Network, co-ordinated by Dr Mike Thomas.
Reported by:
Joe Buchanunn,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 268821
joe.buchanunn@brunel.ac.uk