MyAV范

68 MyAV范 staff, students and alumni marched alongside attendees from Imperial College London and Brunel University, in the largest ever London Pride and Black Pride events on 6 and 7 July. Over 1.5 million people attended both events across the weekend.

This year, the pink Out@MyAV范 t-shirt and flags featured a new and more inclusive design, including colours to represent LGBTQ+ people of colour and the Trans flag. Out@MyAV范 organiser Noel Caliste, Co-Chair of the MyAV范 LGBTG+ Equality Advisory Group (LEAG), said 鈥淓veryone was in great spirits throughout the hectic day鈥� Unfortunately, our application for a float vehicle was declined by the London organisers, which meant that attendees with mobility requirements had some difficulty in attending. But there were a lot of people supporting us in the crowds, who recognised MyAV范.鈥�

This year鈥檚 Black Pride was held in a new venue, Haggerston Park, and had a cohesive festival feel with a main stage and a well-being stage. Speakers included Lady Phyll (co-founder, trustee and executive director of UK Black Pride) and Diane Abbott MP 鈥� the theme of their talks was celebrating people of colour being able to stand together and having an inclusive place to celebrate Pride. Intersex activist Anick also gave a talk on Intersex 101: History and Futures, and MyAV范 LEAG member Asma Ashraf, who organised the MyAV范 visit to Black Pride, was interviewed by bloggers from about her experiences of being intersex. Asma said, 鈥淭his was a special moment for me because we talk about lots of things at home and me being intersex is one of those and my daughter is taking this on board."

Out@MyAV范 was kindly supported by COO Fiona Ryland to attend these events, and will also be attending Trans Pride in Brighton on July 20.听 If you would like to join MyAV范 at this event, we have a few spaces remaining 鈥� please email pride@ucl.ac.uk.