Warwick Pride Week deemed a success

Week 8 saw Pride Week return to campus, aiming to combat prejudice against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Asexual (LGBTUA+) community and increase awareness of the communities not just within Warwick University, but also around the world.

Events included the Love Without Borders: LGBTUA+ Asylum and Deportation talk. According to Leo Boe, Warwick Students’ Union’s (SU) President, “we talk a lot about asylum and deportation, but it becomes more interesting and more challenging to narrow that down and look at specific groups and the challenges that each of them face.”

Boe also stated that Pride Week is “about raising awareness of the realities of being within the LGBTUA+ community”.

Izzy John, the SU’s Welfare Officer, added that “It’s not like any other week because it’s about a specific community and their needs.” John said Pride Week is “about looking at what those students’ experiences are, how they survive and live in a world that is still really homophobic”.

According to John, “there has been an epidemic of suicides and not enough is being done about this. It’s important that this week is for everyone. Everyone will know someone who is LGBT. Oppression affects everyone and how we relate to each other.”

Boe said Pride Week “tends to be one of the most impacting campaign weeks in the year in terms of challenging peoples’ perceptions”.

He added: “Although we like to think that universities are safer places for students and are progressive environments, it’s also one of the best places to raise awareness by challenging social norms.”

“Pride Week is a political week. There’s a perception that Pride is all about rainbow flags. But it’s rooted in protest and there is still a need to protest. Healthcare services are being cut which will disproportionately affect LGBTUA+ people” said John.

Pride Week attracted several prominent speakers. Rosa Parker-Hinton discussed sexism and Hannah Gee addressed the issues of internationalism and LBGT politics. In addition, Ewan McPherson held a workshop on sexual health.

Such activities are not just limited to Pride Week, however. Warwick Pride is an active society throughout the year. According to their website mission statement, they campaign on various issues on behalf of the LGBTUA+ community both within the university and in the wider community. The society provides information, advice and support for those coming to terms with their sexuality through schemes and events like a befriending service and parenting scheme and coming out workshops.

Warwick Pride was founded in 1973, known then as the Gay Liberation Front, and the first Gay Week took place in 1983. Since 2009, there has been a Pride Week every year.

One of the organisers, Richard Chapman, said that it has “gone really well and there has been loads of people turning out”.

He added: “The only negative would be that some of the topics we have to discuss are quite upsetting and not very easy to deal with.”

Hiten Shah, the Ethnic Minorities’ representative, said “there has been a very good turnout for our talks, especially from people not normally involved in Pride”.

The postgraduate and mature student representative, Laura Evans, said there has been a “great sense of community. Everyone has got involved and pulled their weight.”

She believes they have “changed a few preconceptions as well, which is what Pride Week is all about”.

A Vigil protesting against the deportation of Hope Nwachukuwu, a gay man from Nigeria, was held on Friday at 7pm on the Piazza.