LGBTQueen’s: A Celebration Showcase was led by the University’s LGBTQIA+ staff network PRISM with project partner HereNI, supported by the University’s CiviContribution Fund. The event brought staff and students together at One Elmwood to celebrate the vibrant LGBTQIA+ community at Queen’s for a morning of entertainment, refreshments and networking. There were 500 attendees. The event was supported by the participation of external organisations, internal services and senior University management. The event supported Rainbow Refugees as the beneficiary and enabled fundraising for the organisation. 

The showcase enabled a range of external agencies, charities and support groups to gain visibility for the important services they provide in the local community:  Cara-Friend, Rainbow Project, Rainbow Refugees, HereNI, LGBTQIA+ Heritage Project, and Paperxclips Books. 

The LGBTQIA+ staff network PRISM promoted their services and activities alongside representatives from other Queen’s organisations that support LGBTQIA+ students and staff, including the University of Sanctuary, Diversity and Inclusion, and Student Wellbeing. 

Drag acts Dick Von Dyke and Onya Becks, and a 20-foot inflatable rainbow brought some extra colour to the event. The evening of the event saw the first ever rainbow illumination of the Lanyon building, celebrating the day’s event and marking LGBTQ+ History Month. 

There were talks from the Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer, who reiterated that Queen’s is a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQIA+ community, and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality Diversity and Inclusion Professor Peter Robertson, who  highlighted the value of staff diversity to the work of the University and the importance of staff networks such as PRISM. Representing the voice of students, Suyi Yang, the Equality and Diversity Officer from Queen’s Student Union, talked about the importance of LGBTQIA+ students being heard and feeling safe and included in QUB. Sally Bridge, the co-chair of PRISM, highlighted the importance of visibility and the need for ongoing activism to ensure staff and students can bring their whole selves to Queen’s. Finally, a representative of Rainbow Refugees talked about the crucial work the organisation does to support LGBTQIA+ refugees, ensuring they have at least one safe space to be themselves. 

Feedback on the day was very positive from both staff and students. There was a steady stream of attendees throughout the day and engagement with the information stands was really good. Numerous staff signed up as either PRISM members or allies, and a number of new PRISM members have reached out to the committee expressing an interest in becoming more involved. The participating organisations reported benefiting from the event.

Suyi Yang, Student Officer Equality & Diversity commented how pleased she was to see such strong representation of the LGBTQIA+ Community in the Student Union:

“I'm just wanting to say a huge thank you for organizing the great event. It was such a great success. I have been chatting with Rainbow Refugees, Cara Friend, Rainbow Project. They are doing a brilliant job and I'm hoping to collaborate with them one day. Thank you for bringing them here.”

Catherine Couvert, Rainbow Refugees Board Member said:

“Rainbow Refugees NI is a small volunteer organisation created in 2022 to raise awareness of the issues facing LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers in NI, advocate on their behalf and allow them to meet monthly in a safe, confidential space.

We would like to thank QUB's Civic Engagement team for a brilliant public engagement event at QUB student union in February. This welcoming and well-attended event allowed us to raise awareness of our work, gave our members the opportunity to volunteer at an information stall and raised some much-needed funds for our small volunteer group.

All money raised goes towards providing safe spaces and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ people seeking asylum.”

PRISM enjoys positive working relationships with the broader LGBTQIA+ Community through organisations such as ‘Working with Pride’ and the ‘All-Island third-level LGBTQIA+ Staff Network’.

This event has strengthened the position of Queen’s as an LGBTQIA+ inclusive place to study and work. Raising our visibility with local organisations represented at the event, including Rainbow Project which provides several training programmes for staff and students within Queen’s. The event provided an opportunity to reinforce existing partnerships with HereNI and Rainbow Refugees.

It was also a great opportunity to engage directly with Cara-Friend, who provide support to LGBTQIA+ young people and are highly visible to our student population. There was also an opportunity for PRISM colleagues to find out more about the Cara-Friend LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Business Charter.

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