National Student Pride, an event celebrating gay culture and equal rights, begins today in London, just one week after actress Ellen Page publicly came out as gay at a Human Rights Campaign conference. The event, which started as a small protest in response to a lecture at Oxford Brookes University, has grown into a weekend festival with over 100 universities attending. The festival aims to provide support for LGBT students and young professionals, as well as widening accessibility to LGBT events and culture. The steering committee for the event includes LGBT professionals, such as Stephen Gilbert MP and Stonewall’s Richard Lane. Politicians such as David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband have supported the festival in previous years. This year’s event includes a screening of “Call Me Kuchu”, a documentary about Uganda’s LGBT community and the introduction of anti-gay laws, and performances by Foxes and Eternal.
As Lees speaks about her participation in events like this, she cannot help but feel a mixture of emotions. As a former student who faced a number of challenges, she never would have thought that speaking to audiences made up of future leaders and advocates would be in her future. However, she acknowledges that the obstacles she has overcome have only fueled the passion she now possesses for these issues.
Actor Charlie Condou shares a similar sentiment, having participated in the previous year’s edition of Student Pride. Having grown up during a time when LGBTQ+ rights were heavily restricted, he believes it is crucial for young people to take pride in the progress that has been made and to celebrate their identities.
While Guy, a recent architecture graduate who is now working in the field, recognizes that the event was initially designed for and by students, he is optimistic about its future. With a new generation of dedicated individuals involved in the planning and execution of the event, he hopes that Student Pride will continue to grow and thrive.
For those interested in attending or learning more about Student Pride, visit www.studentpride.co.uk for ticket information and event details.
