National Student Pride 2024 highlights: Inclusive employers and captivating panels
February 27, 2024London’s University of Westminster hosted this year’s vibrant and inclusive National Student Pride over the weekend of February 23-25, attracting over 2,000 attendees from around the country. The event featured a dynamic line-up of festivities, including parties, thought-provoking panel discussions, an LGBTQ+ careers fair featuring inclusive employers, and a bustling community marketplace.
As in previous years, the myGwork team was at the event, championing LGBTQ+ inclusion on behalf of hundreds of corporate partners, which are some of the world’s leading brands. Many of myGwork’s partners including American Express, AXA, Bloomberg, Clifford Chance, Enterprise, Hearst UK, Impulse London, Kraft Heinz, Lloyds Banking Group, lululemon, Pfizer, Pride in London, Standard Chartered Bank, also attended the event with their own stands.
Hundreds of students in search of job opportunities with inclusive employers engaged with myGwork’s team, signed up as members and participated in entertaining hoopla games to win exclusive myGwork merchandise, including caps, t-shirts, bags, pens, and notebooks.
Students and graduates attending the event also enjoyed a variety of engaging panels, live music, and captivating experiences, hosted by drag race star Tia Kofi and trans activist Charlie Craggs. The event also featured notable queer celebrity guests like writer Russell T Davies, actor Nathaniel Curtis, musician Beth McCarthy, and comedian Joe Lycett.
A highlight of the event was Suzi Ruffell’s interview with LGBTQ+ stand-up comedian Joe Lycett. Known for his sardonically camp style and whimsical public stunts, Lycett entertained the audience and didn't shy away from addressing serious topics.
As well as making a powerful statement on the Israel and Gaza Conflict, LBC presenter Natasha Devon hosted Queer Question Time with leading politicians such as Ashley Dalton MP (Labour), Nickie Aiken (Conservative), Baroness Lynne Featherstone (Lib Dem) and Zack Polanski (Green Party).
Questions from students covered concerning issues such as anti-trans hate, especially in the current government, as well as the lack of affordable housing and the generational wealth gap. “The Conservative Party used to be a decent party and now it has to deal with people that are peddling hatred, because hatred sells,” shared Baroness Lynne Featherstone.
Attitude magazine’s editor-in-chief, Cliff Joannou, delved into LGBTQ+ representation in film and TV through interviews with notable figures like producer and screenwriter Russell T Davies. Known for his significant contributions to Doctor Who and other acclaimed series, such as Queer as Folk and It’s a Sin, Davies acknowledged the need for increased diversity, stating, "If we made Queer as Folk now, we’d have trans characters, we’d have a better racial mix in there.”
In short, the event was another success, highlighting that LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion is a must, and not an option for the next working generation.
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