As the local community gears up to celebrate Pride Month, see what’s on in and around the University.

Pride Month takes place each June in celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. The month of June was chosen to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in America in 1969, while the name ‘Pride’ is a call to be proud of yourself no matter who you love.

Parades and events take place around the world, including here in Lancaster and the local area. It’s an opportunity to join together, to celebrate the history of the community and highlight work still to be done.

Organised by local LGBTQI charity Out in the Bay, the Lancaster and Morecambe annual Pride celebrations are supported by Lancaster University through its community sponsorship programme. Meanwhile, events are also planned for campus and around the city.

Find out more and get involved.

What’s on

Morecambe Pride

Saturday 30 May, 11am to 5pm

Taking the theme ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ – a nod to acclaimed Morecambe-born comedian Eric Morecambe, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year – Morecambe Pride will begin with a ‘Sunshine Parade’ along the length of Morecambe Promenade. Events venue Alhambra Live will then host a stage programme of live music, spoken word, dance, drag and community performances, as well as a vibrant indoor market and information and support stalls.

Pride in STEM

Sunday 7 June, 10am to 3pm

Hosted at The Gregson Centre in Lancaster, the first of the Pride in STEM events includes a range of hands-on, family-friendly activities in the Main Hall including micro:bit coding; strawberry (and other assorted fruit) DNA; cabbage PH testing; density rainbow in a test tube; and hydrogen cars – as well as arts and crafts with Queer by Gum, a wellbeing stall, a Bent Spines pop-up book shop, dress-up station with LGBTQ+ scientists past and present and activities from industrial sponsor NG Bailey.

Flash Talks

Sunday 7 June, 1-3pm

Running simultaneously, the team behind the Pride in STEM event will host a series of short, half-hour flash talks in the Secret Cinema for audiences aged 16+. They include:

• Dr Jaime Benjamin (Psychology) on Sex, gender and attraction: it's complicated;
• John Barbrook (Library) on Transerasure and the missing web: Anti-LGBTQ+ politics role in website modification and research deletion;
• Diyar Padiar (Gender Studies) on Pregnancy beyond borders and binaries: Trans and non-binary migrant experience in UK healthcare.

These free talks can be booked separately via the trybooking website.

Lancaster Pride

Sunday 14 June, from 11am

On this day of celebration for the local LGBTQ+ community and its allies, Lancaster Pride will begin with a parade through the city from Dalton Square, followed by live entertainment.

Borrow and browse

The University Library is holding a bookstand in the foyer displaying LGBTQ+ titles that students, staff and members of the public are encouraged to borrow from and browse. Examples of the types of books available can be found on the libguide or reading list – whilst on Libby, a specially curated collection of books, audiobooks, comics and magazines come recommended.

More information

Any staff seeking more information should check the LGBT Staff Network Teams Group, or contact the University’s LGBT+ Staff Network on lgbtstaffnetwork@lancaster.ac.uk.

For students, the Students’ Union’s LGBTQ+ Forum advocates for LGBTQ+ equality within the student community and beyond, hosting events and meetings in confidential ‘safe spaces’. Check out their Instagram account for updates.

The University’s LGBTQIA+ Ally Network is an internal network of knowledgeable and proactive LGBTQIA+ allies who offer support, guidance, and assistance to LGBTQIA+ students and colleagues whenever needed.