Pride parade entry takes a prize for second year running

28 Aug 2013

The University has won ‘Best Themed Entry' in this year's Manchester Pride parade.

Last Saturday (24 August), watched by thousands of onlookers, our entry of more than 120 students, staff, friends and family members cheerfully (and noisily) handed out balloons, stickers and certificate scrolls and showed that the University is an inclusive place in which to work and study.

As the parade wound its way around Manchester, they also collected money for our new community partners LGBT Youth North West (based on Sidney Street, near the Sugden Centre).

Among those on the float were the University's other back-to-back winners, our 2013 University Challenge champions. Team member Tristan Burke reported: "I had an absolutely brilliant day."

Competition was extremely fierce, with over 100 entries taking their lead and inspiration from this year's parade theme of 'Acceptable in the 80's', chosen to recognise the impact the decade had on LGBT and HIV activism, with the introduction of Section 28 and the stigmatisation of people suffering from HIV/AIDS. Our success was recognised with the award of a golden Rubik Cube.

Paul Marks-Jones, from the Equality and Diversity Office, said: "This is a marvellous achievement which was only possible thanks to the efforts of many people. From financial supporters and helpful colleagues to suppliers, advertisers and communicators, they all contributed towards our success."