Pride

Pride 2025

Pride

Pride month is celebrated every June to acknowledge and recognise the accomplishments of the LGBTQIA+ rights movement and our brave LGBTQIA+ advocates. It’s about the people in the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies who have fought and continue to fight for equality and recognised dignity.

History of Pride

Around the world, June is recognized as LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual) Pride Month to commemorate a tipping point in queer human rights history — the Stonewall Riots uprising. Notably led by trans women of colour activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, Stonewall began on 28 June 1969, lasting for 6 days sparked by the years of targeted police harassment at the Stonewall Inn located in Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York.

The first Pride was not a celebration. It was a riot led by queer people of colour. Pride was born out of a struggle. We see you; we celebrate you.

Pride Canterbury

Pride Canterbury takes place on the 7 June 2025, kick starting with the Pride March through Canterbury, culminating in the Pride celebrations in the Westgate Gardens. We have a limited number of wristbands available for members of our LGBTQ+ Staff and Student Networks (and a limited number for their Allies) to take part in the Parade. We also run a marketplace stand at the Pride Celebrations in the Westgate so do come and find us for some freebies and to find out more about our work supporting and celebrating the LGBTQIA community.

Pride Parade Wristbands

As a significant sponsor of Pride, Kent has reserved spaces for staff and students to take part in the Pride Parade that precedes the main event, this year taking place in the Westgate Gardens. Parade participants get automatic entry to the main event. Anyone who wishes to take part in the Pride parade on Saturday 7 June must be wearing a Parade Wristband prior to entry to the staging area. There are a limited number, and these will be given out on a first come, first served basis.

All reserved and unallocated wristbands can be collected from Becky Lamyman at the following times and dates:

Thursday 5 June, 10-12, Gulbenkian Café
Friday 6 June, 12-2, M1.06 Keynes College (upstairs next to the lift door)

If you have any queries please email EqualityandDiversity@kent.ac.uk

Medway Pride

Medway Pride takes place on the 16 August 2025 in Rochester, with a week of celebrations and activities leading up to it. Like Pride Canterbury, Medway Pride features the Pride Parade, followed by the Pride Celebrations.

More information on Medway Pride will be released nearer the time.

We take Pride in Kent sponsoring Canterbury & Medway Pride, celebrating & giving back to our communities.

University of Kent Pride Planning Group

Pride and your Wellbeing

Pride is a celebration, but can highlight injustice and increased awareness can be challenging. Pride may reinforce awareness of inequality or surface painful memories

You're not alone. It's not your responsibility to fix the world. The people around you all carry responsibility to change behaviour