A number of city firms have joined UWE as the lead partners supporting Bristol Pride, the week-long celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.
It is the sixth year running UWE has sponsored the event, the largest free Pride Festival in the UK which last year attracted more than 30,000 people.
The university will also be the community area partner for Bristol Pride Day tomorrow. Other partners include EDF Energy, Clifton Hotels, law firm Irwin Mitchell, FirstGroup, Bristol City Council and the GMB union. 
Bristol Pride 2015 is supporting the city’s role this year as European Green Capital, making it the first ever UK Green Capital Pride.
Pride Day, a one-day free festival of cultural music and arts takes place in Castle Park tomorrow. It starts from lunchtime and runs into the evening with 90′s sensation Heather Small headlining on the main stage.
Irwin Mitchell is family area partner while EDF is the green energy provider. 6 o’clock Gin is VIP partner and Clifton Hotels the hotel partner. Other supporters include Network Rail, Bath Ales, Brothers Cider and Amstel beer.
UWE Bristol VCAB diversity champion for LGBT, Tracy Willis, said: “UWE Bristol is committed to providing a positive experience for all and we are pleased to sponsor Pride for the sixth occasion as part of our unwavering focus on equality and diversity.
“We recognise that being truly inclusive benefits our students, our staff and everyone we engage with locally, nationally and internationally. We are proud of our diversity and of the accessible, inclusive and welcoming learning community we continue to create. Pride is one of the ways we demonstrate and celebrate this.”
Bristol Pride 2015 organiser Daryn Carter said: “We are very pleased to again have such overwhelming support for UWE Bristol, both in terms of financial support for Pride but also in helping raise awareness of our events and activities amongst students, staff and Bristol as a whole. UWE Bristol has been a great partner to Pride and has supported our activities since Pride returned to the city in 2010.”
The week-long festival, which started last weekend, has included a diverse range of events all over Bristol including a comedy night, theatre with curated performances, LGBT history night and, following the success last year, the return of the Pride dog show. The Watershed has staged the Bristol Pride Film Festival featuring specially selected and award winning LGBT films.
For more information visit the Bristol Pride Website
