Celebrate LGBT history month at UWE!

UWE Bristol and The Students' Union will highlight their continued commitment to LGBT equality this February, as staff and students celebrate LGBT History Month.

LGBT History Month is a month-long (01 February - 29 February 2016) celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history.

Two rainbow flags are flying proudly in support of the event throughout February outside the Farmhouse and by the East Entrance on Frenchay Campus. Students' Union Staff will also be wearing rainbow ribbons in support and recognising that LGBT discrimination remains a big problem in sport, Students' Union Sports Teams will be wearing rainbow laces or wristbands during their matches.

A full calendar of LGBT History Month events will run throughout February including free film screenings of C.R.A.Z.Y,Pride and The Celluloid Closet.The popular exhibition, 'Revealing Stories' from OutStories Bristol will be hosted in the Frenchay Library foyer. The exhibition is based on archival records and oral history interviews with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people associated with Bristol and the surrounding areas. Focusing on living memory, (c 1940s to the present) it tells how people fought to shape and control their own lives.

Tracy Willis, VCAB Diversity Champion for LGBT, at UWE Bristol, said, “Inclusivity is a fundamental tenet for successful, connected and compassionate societies. At UWE Bristol we are working to create an environment where our students and staff feel valued and engaged, a place where everyone can be themselves and achieve their goals as respected members of a diverse and supportive learning community. LGBT history month is an opportunity for us to continue raising awareness because there is still much to do. This LGBT history month we can ALL help break the silence, challenge discrimination and stand tall as proud and committed advocates for our LGBT students, colleagues and friends.”

Jack Polson, President, The Students' Union at UWE Bristol, said, “It is great to see the Students' Union and University collaborating on raising awareness for LGBT History Month. The introduction of our LGBT Officer to the team shows the importance of raising awareness of the topic. While hosting a range of activities during this important month, it is important to recognise that these events will be carried on throughout the year, giving students the knowledge that equality, diversity and inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. It is sad to see that people are still discriminated against because of who they love, this is why it is crucial to get the message out there and to educate people that we are all the same and we should be proud.”

Equality and diversity underpins the University's core values. UWE Bristol was named number one University in the 2015 Top 100 annual Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index and has been a proud sponsor of Pride since its Bristol Re-launch in 2010, honoured for its commitment at the first ever Bristol Pride Awards.

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