For a sixth consecutive year, the University of Sussex was a proud partner of this year’s Brighton & Hove Pride event on Saturday 5 August.

This year marks 50 years since the first ‘Brighton Gay Pride March’, which was organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front, an organisation comprised of students and staff from the University of Sussex, along with LGBT people from the area.

This year, the University sponsored an open top bus to support those in the community unable to walk for all or part of the duration of the parade. The bus had 33 allocated seats and University staff and students who opted to take the bus were joined by other members of the Brighton & Hove community who applied for a spot.

Professor David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, spearheaded the initiative to introduce the University of Sussex bus to this year’s parade celebrations.

Professor David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sussex, said:

“Brighton & Hove Pride is such an important event for the LGBTQ+ community and we wanted to be able to support the inclusion of people with mobility difficulties and or who may find it difficult to walk the full length of the parade, whether they are from the University community or elsewhere.

“As an event that champions diversity and inclusion, we wanted to ensure that as many people as possible could enjoy their Pride experience.”

To celebrate and recognise the diversity in the community, the University invited 100 staff, students and alumni to join the Community Pride Parade. This included Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality and Inclusion) Professor David Ruebain and the University’s new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) Professor Kate O’Riordan.