News and Updates

Category: Community

28 February 2018

Eddington celebrates LGBT+ History Month

On Wednesday February 28, Eddington’s residents, staff, school pupils and neighbours formed a giant rainbow to celebrate LGBT+ History Month.

LGBT+ History Month takes place every February to promote the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, their history, lives and experience. This encourages diversity and equality, as well as raising awareness and advancing education on matters affecting the LGBT+ community.

To mark the end of LGBT+ History month the University of Cambridge Primary School, with the local Eddington and Cambridge community, stood together in solidarity for a rainbow photo call.

Eddington residents and staff joined the 300 school pupils, wearing a t-shirt or jumper to match one colour in the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). Participants were all arranged in colour order to create a giant rainbow.

The University of Cambridge Primary School is adjacent to Turing Way, a road named after Cambridge alumni and computer pioneer Alan Turing.

Turing was convicted in 1952 for “gross indecency” following a relationship with another man. The conviction meant he lost his security clearance and had to stop the codebreaking work that had proved vital to the Allies in World War Two. He was granted a posthumous royal pardon in 2013.

Eddington’s rainbow photo call marked the end of the month of activities across the school, University and society to raise awareness of and celebrate the LGBT+ community.

James Biddulph, Headteacher of the school told the children: “We are all different and we are all equal. That means we can do what we like so long as we do not hurt anyone else. The University of Cambridge Primary School is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which everyone feels welcomed and important.”

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Professor Stephen J Toope said: “As LGBT+ History month reaches its end, we have much to celebrate. In my field of law, there have been advances in gaining equality for LGBT people – from protection from discrimination, to celebration of civil unions and parenthood. But equality in law doesn’t always translate into equality in life. That’s why we will keep up our efforts to celebrate Cambridge’s diversity.

“Specific initiatives, including the School of Humanities and Social Sciences’ recently announced programme focusing on LGBTQ+ research, illustrate the importance of acknowledging this diversity in our academic pursuits as well as in our daily lives. Our primary school continues to embrace opportunities to define what a truly inclusive education could be.

“LGBT+ History Month has shown what we can achieve when we all work together with the common goal of creating the Cambridge we want to live, work in and  study in. We are committed to being a place where people are allowed to be themselves – to think their own way, define their own boundaries and form their own identities.

“Thanks to all of you who have participated, given your support and helped Cambridge to be a welcoming, open and tolerant place.”

Heather Topel, Project Director for the North West Cambridge Development, said: “The Eddington Rainbow was a success and we are pleased to support the development of Eddington as a new community in Cambridge that is open to all.  We will be hosting a range of events throughout the year that support the broad range of individuals and communities that are part of Cambridge.”

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