Pride Month

At Queen Mary, Pride Month is a time to celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities, reflect on lived experiences, and reaffirm our commitment to inclusion. We invite staff, students and the wider community to engage with this year’s programme and take part in meaningful conversations and events throughout June.

As well as celebrating, Pride Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of ongoing inequalities and discrimination, and to continue advocating for equal rights and freedoms for all.

Our Theme 

This year’s themes of visibility, community, inclusion and action are reflected throughout the programme, creating space for connection, dialogue and meaningful engagement across our university.

Intersectionality

Celebrating Pride Month in an intersectional way is vital, recognising that overlapping identities shape the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people both historically and today.

For example, a lesbian woman may experience both homophobia and misogyny, while LGBTQIA+ people of colour may face racism alongside homophobia, biphobia or transphobia. Disabled LGBTQIA+ individuals may also experience ableism.

Our Commitment

Queen Mary University of London is proud to open the doors of opportunity through excellence to anyone with the potential to succeed.

Our work to create an inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ staff and students is supported by the People, Culture and Inclusion Enabling Plan, alongside our core values of being inclusive, proud, ambitious, collegial and ethical.

 At Queen Mary, our aim is to ensure that all staff and students feel safe, valued and able to thrive, with inclusion and social justice central to our mission and 2030 Strategy.

Support & Community

We support LGBTQIA+ communities through a range of initiatives and services. The QMOut LGBTQIA+ Staff Network provides a staff led space for connection, peer support and dialogue, and works closely with the EDI team to help shape policy and improve staff experience.

Students can access dedicated support through the Advice and Counselling Service, which offers confidential guidance on wellbeing, mental health and personal matters, alongside the Student Wellbeing Hub, a central access point for wider support.

The Report and Support system also enables students to report bullying, harassment or hate incidents and access specialist help.

The Students’ Union LGBTQ+ Society offers a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ students and allies, alongside social events, peer support and awareness raising activities throughout the year.

“At Queen Mary, our vision is to open the doors of opportunity through excellence, and our mission is to create a truly inclusive environment where students and staff can flourish and reach their full potential. Pride Month is a powerful reflection of these commitments in action.

This year’s themes of visibility, community, inclusion and action speak directly to our core values.  Through  this programme, we reaffirm our commitment to visibility and belonging, to strengthening our community, and to taking meaningful action to advance equality. Working together, we continue to build a university where everyone feels valued, supported, and able to be their authentic selves. We invite you to take a look at this year’s programme and to join us in engaging with the wide range of events and conversations taking place throughout the month.”

Dr Philippa Lloyd, Vice-Principal (Policy and Strategic Partnerships)