Students’ Union take pride in hosting LGBT+ event

A celebration of the LGBT+ community has taken place at Walsall College with the support of local organisations.  The Pride event was hosted by the Students’ Union as a way of promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion and celebrating everyone’s identities.

Rainbow-coloured activities took place including hair braiding and manicures by hair and beauty students.  Health and social care students shared messages around respecting peoples’ life choices and supporting their individuality.  This was with a view to encouraging the LGBT+ community to access health care and mental health services without fear of being judged.

Bracelets and cupcakes were also given out and artwork-based activities took place.

Beauty student, Emily Sims who provided nail treatments said: “I love going to events like these.  They bring people from outside the LGBT+ community into our community to see that we are just normal people who love in a different way.

“These events bring a lot of awareness of the difficulties we might face, including prejudice, but also the good sides such as a sense of belonging, acceptance of who we are and the freedom to live and love as we choose.”

Event exhibitors included Walsall For All who shared information about local community initiatives.

Black Country Innovate representatives spoke to attendees about hate crime awareness in a bid to understand more about peoples’ experiences of this.