MyAV·¶

On Saturday 8 July, members of

ucl.ac.uk/hr/equalities/lgbt/lgbt_group.php" target="_parent">Out@MyAV·¶ - MyAV·¶'s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer +* (LGBTQ+) staff network - participated in London's annual Pride march to promote LGBTQ+ equality.

An estimated 26,000 people gathered in Central London to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and promote equality for its members. The annual parade is a key event in the LGBTQ+ calendar providing a platform to raise awareness of issues faced by LGBTQ+ people.

This year's Pride in London march also commemorated the 50^th anniversary of the passing of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 which partially decriminalized homosexuality in England and Wales, a milestone event for gay men which arguably led to wider acceptance of the LGBT community in subsequent decades.

Over 300 groups were represented in the marching parade, including a number of other universities and partner organizations, such as Kings College London, Imperial College London, University College London Hospital NHS Trust and the Francis Crick Institute.

Energy and enthusiam

Anne Moore and Sandy Kutty, Co-Chairs of Out@MyAV·¶ said in a joint statement, "We were delighted to be a part of the energy and enthusiasm Out@MyAV·¶ members brought to the parade as they carried a rainbow edition of the MyAV·¶ banner through the crowded streets of Central London.

"We were even more delighted to be joined by so many of our colleagues from FriendsofOut@MyAV·¶ - MyAV·¶'s LGBTQ+ allies staff network - who have committed themselves to visibly showing their support for MyAV·¶'s LGBTQ+ community.

They added, "The cheers of support from the crowds, which included MyAV·¶ current students and alumni made the day an exhilarating and validating experience. However the spirit of Pride is not only reserved for the parade day itself - MyAV·¶ proudly displayed the rainbow flag above the Portico during the Pride in London festival (24^th June - 9^th July), a bold and visible display of the institution's values of tolerance and inclusivity.

"The success of this year's Pride in London festivities makes us optimistic for the future of the LGBTQ+ equality movement Ìýand we look forward to working with others in MyAV·¶ and beyond to ensure MyAV·¶ is at the forefront of promoting LGBTQ+ equality in the local community and globally."

To find out more about MyAV·¶ staff and students experience at Pride in London 2017 read the event blog penned by Sarah Guise, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

For more information on Out@MyAV·¶ or FriendsofOut@MyAV·¶, please visit the or follow on Twitter.

*a '+' is added to the LGBTQ+ abbreviation to ensure we are inclusive of all minority sexual or gender identities who do not identify as either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.

• Images courtesy of Shaun Waldie