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Pride Month 2025

Posted on behalf of: EDI Unit

Last updated: Tuesday, 10 June 2025

Although Pride marches and events take place in the UK at different times throughout the summer, June is celebrated worldwide as Pride Month because the Stonewall riots took place on 28 June 1969. Pride Month is a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ people and experiences, as well as to recognise the challenges and discrimination that LGBTQ+ people face in the UK and worldwide.

Brighton and Hove Pride Community Parade

This year, the University of Sussex will be taking part again in the Brighton and Hove Community Parade with a walking party. We would be delighted if you could join us! The Pride Community Parade will be on Saturday 2 August 2025 and to take part you will need to be available from 9am-2pm. 

We welcome current students, staff, students' union staff and alumni to take part. However, places in the parade are limited and will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. We will be operating a waiting list if the parade is oversubscribed. The deadline to fill out the form is Monday 30 June. As you will be representing the University of Sussex in the Parade you will be given a branded T shirt (or similar item) to wear on the day.  

If you would like to enter the Parade with us, please click here to fill out this form. We will be in touch with you to confirm your space.

LGBTQ+ Staff Network

The LGBTQ+ Staff Network committee said: “Following recent feedback from our network members regarding continued support for the Pride parade, we’ve had some thoughtful and reflective discussions. As a result, we have decided to redirect our focus toward supporting grassroots, community-led events run by and for the LGBTQ+ community.”

“While we continue to celebrate the joy and solidarity that Pride represents, and wholeheartedly welcome genuine allyship and our queer members marching in the parade, we believe it’s important to also acknowledge the ongoing struggles facing LGBTQ+ people, both in the UK and globally. For this reason, we’re choosing to invest our energy and resources into initiatives and events that are both community-led and grounded in activism.”

Pride at Sussex

Pride at Sussex is a photography and written word exhibition spotlighting LGBTQ+ staff at the University of Sussex. The exhibition will be held from 17 June until 31 July in the Corner Gallery in the Library. The exhibition features photographs of participating staff members, or a meaningful place on campus that represents them, alongside a caption drawn from their experiences being LGBTQ+ at Sussex.

An accompanying Padlet contains the photographs alongside fuller versions of the participants’ written reflections.

The Pride at Sussex project has been led by James Ward-Lee, former Chair of the Trans and Non-Binary staff network, in conjunction with a small working group composed of members of the LGBTQ Steering Group.

Support for staff and students

Staff members who identify as LGBTQ+ can join our LGBTQ+ Staff Network by contacting lgbt-staff@sussex.ac.uk.  The LGBTQ+ Staff Network arranges events and activities through the year, and provides an informal network of LGBTQ+ staff. Many of their events are open to all staff, and some events are also open to students. To find out more, see the Staff Networks page.

Our Trans and Non-binary Staff Network at Sussex is a confidential and fully inclusive group open to all Sussex staff who identify as trans and/or non-binary. You can join the confidential mailing list by contacting transnonbinarystaff@sussex.ac.uk. The mailing list is monitored and accessed solely by the Chair of the Trans and Non-binary Staff Network.

Students who identify as LGBTQ+ can join the Students’ Union’s LGBTQ+ Society and contact the Students’ Union officers for support.

Students who identify as trans and/or non-binary, or who are intersex, can contact the Students’ Union Trans and Non-binary Group by emailing transnonbinary@sussexstudent.com. They can also get involved with Transcend, a SU-affiliated Campaign and Network aimed at uplifting the lives of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming students at the University of Sussex and beyond: transcend.sussex@sussexstudent.com

The University of Sussex is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for every member of its community. If you or someone else has experienced behaviours such as bullying, harassment, a hate incident, sexual violence, domestic abuse or discrimination, you can let us know using Report and Support.

The university’s Wellbeing Support Guide contains a dedicated section signposting to a variety of LGBTQ+-specific resources.

Students can find resources and support at the Student Centre and on the Sexuality and Gender Support and Information web pages.

LGBTQ+ e-learning

Staff may wish to explore relevant e-learnings during Pride Month. In addition to the mandatory Diversity in the Workplace e-learning, the university also provides courses in Trans and Non-Binary Awareness and a guide for managers on Supporting Trans and Non-Binary People at Work.