June is officially Pride month; a time to recognise and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and the advances that are continually being made improving equality and futures for LGBTQ+ people worldwide. It is also an opportunity to give a voice to and campaign for those that do not benefit from equal treatment and are still unable to express themselves safely.

Pupils at Chase Terrace Academy were eager to get involved to show their support and recognition of the significance of the pride movement. A group of 23 pupils and 7 staff travelled to the Birmingham Pride Big Community Event on Friday 26 May – the Big Community Event is the launch of the Birmingham Pride Weekend and saw the festival site opened up to the public, featuring a range of events and performances showcasing the diversity and scale of the LGBTQ+ community.

The group travelled by train, and took the journey as an opportunity to get pride-ready with an abundance of glitter, rainbow face paint and different flags of identities from the LGBTQ+ community.

The journey to the festival site included a walk (in beautiful sunshine!) through Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ village, viewing landmarks such as community art installations, historic LGBTQ+ venues and the HIV AIDS memorial. Once inside the site, pupils saw performances from notable Midlands based performers and activists such as Ginny Lemon, Lady Bushra and Fatt Butcher (as well as exploring the funfair and street food)!

Mr O Cooper, LGBTQ+ Representative and organiser of the trip, said, “All pupils embraced the event fantastically, demonstrating the spirit of pride and representing the school and its inclusive values impeccably. Staff even received positive comments from members of the public, happy to see our pupils radiating so much positivity and pride.”

Celebrations will continue throughout the month in school!