Pride Week 2022 wrap-up

Pride Week 2022 wrap-up

Students, staff and alumni celebrated RMIT's commitment to the inclusion of our LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Week 2022.

There were over 20 online and in-person events this year for students to get involved in, from pop-up barber shops to bake sales and morning teas. Pride Week is about raising awareness of issues and barriers to inclusion, creating spaces of belonging and sharing stories that connect us.  

Pride week wrap images Check out all the photos from the week in RMIT's Flickr album.

This year the week was kicked off with a welcome presentation and morning tea, where staff and RUSU Queer Officers, Reggie Chang and Patrick Pieciun shared their personal stories and their hopes for the future. 

Image of young student Patrick looking at camera smiling wearing purple jacket

RUSU Queer Officer, Patrick Pieciun. 

"Over the last few years, our two main campaigns were the expansion of the Queer Lounge and to stop deadnaming on all student facing platforms.   

This year, me and Reggie have decided to expand the deadnaming campaign and take it nationally. We have collaborated with the National Union of Students and are currently working collaboratively to make sure that all students across the country feel safe at their universities."

Image courtesy RUSU. 

Among the activities was an international student morning tea, a chance to enjoy delicious food and reflect on experiences and challenges faced as students from diverse cultural backgrounds within the LGBTQIA+ community.  

“We decided to attend because it’s really nice to feel a sense of inclusivity when I’m studying in Melbourne, I couldn’t have this when I was back home. The fact that I can have a safe space and environment on my campus is great, I’m really grateful for it,” said international student Nadhyra. 

“I’m very thankful, it makes me really happy that we are really celebrated here at RMIT. I feel included, I feel safe, and it’s great to be here.” 

Four panel image showing students participating in Pride Week festivities. Top left panel showing two students in purple jackets hugging. Top right image two students in rainbow colours standing side by side. Bottom left three students posing together with Pride rainbow flag draped over shoulder. Bottom right panel showing student in red jacket holding can of Coke smiling towards camera.  Students enjoying the RUSU Pride Week Chill n' Grill. Images courtesy of RUSU.

Students across all three campuses were also treated to a special Pride Week RUSU Chill n’ Grill, complete with beats, beer and a barbershop hosted by RMIT’s new Gender Equity and Justice Project.

"We have developed a great community here at RMIT, and it’s a community I am proud to be a part of, and I hope that during my long years of study here that queer folk are afforded a place amongst our friends, and we understand their struggle, and we will continually fight for their freedom to express who they are or want to be," said Reggie. 

If you need help or support as a member of RMIT’s diverse genders, sexes, and sexualities (DGSS) group you can find more resources available from clicking the link below.  

05 September 2022

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.