Petroc students, staff and community members gathered outside the college’s North Devon Campus yesterday (February 1) to raise the rainbow flag and mark the start of LGBT+ History Month.
This is the third consecutive year that the flag, which is recognised as the international symbol for LGBT+ causes, has been flown at Petroc and it will remain outside the main entrance to the campus throughout February.
The event was attended by influential members of the community, including Cllr Julie Hunt, Mayor of Barnstaple, along with local councillors and business representatives.
David Chalmers, Regional Diversity Champion and North Devon Sunrise Trustee, was invited to speak at the ceremony. He said: “It’s great that, for the third year, Petroc has raised the rainbow flag, because this sends out a really strong and positive message to all members of our community that they can achieve their aspirations, and that there is opportunity and support for everyone in our society.”
Diane Dimond, Petroc Principal and CEO, explained: “As a college, we pride ourselves on being very inclusive and we work closely with the Student Union and LGBT+ staff and student members to make sure we respond to their needs, and that we are proactive in ensuring that we are as inclusive as possible.”
Jasmine Telford, the LGBT+ Representative for Petroc Student Union, was also at the event. Speaking afterwards, she said: “As LGBT+ Officer, I think it’s very important that we encourage diversity and that we make positive changes for our LGBT+ students around college. I think recently we have definitely been implementing more ideas that can help students and help spread the knowledge of LGBT+ among Petroc students.”
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