Rainbow Alliance

We are committed to promoting an inclusive and supportive environment across the University, where LGBTQ+ voices are heard, and equality is supported and championed in everything we do.

Joining the Rainbow Alliance

Membership is open to members of University staff who are committed to the aims of the network, whether full or part-time, temporary or permanent.

Follow the links below for information. If you have any questions or would like to join the network, please email equality@york.ac.uk.

LGBTQ+ action plan

During listening exercises in 2023, we heard the views of wide range of LGBTQ+ staff and students.

Following this we formed an action plan and have been working on issues grouped into five themes:

• Social engagement: organise and promote activities
• Online information: better communication and access to resources
• Inclusion and involvement: promotion of inclusion across the University
• Support mechanisms: explore specialist and informal support
• Large events: Pride, LGBTQ+ History Month, IDAHOBIT, TDOR.

There are lots of ways to get involved.

Find out more about the action plan

Action Group meetings

• Every three months we have an Action Group meeting.
• These are hybrid meetings which you can attend in person or online, and anyone is welcome.
• The agenda is open, and anyone can raise anything they would like to talk about.
• If you are interested in coming along, sign up for our monthly emails by emailing equality@york.ac.uk and look out for information about dates and times.

Activities

Pride

Every year we raise the flag for Pride, a University tradition founded by a member of the network. 

The flag raising continues our efforts to increase visibility and ensure that our community is seen and heard, especially in Pride month.

Watch the Pride flag raising speeches from 2026 and 2025. 

Monthly socials

• We meet on the first Thursday of the month from 5.30pm onwards at Brew York, Walmgate.
• We sit in the downstairs tap room and wear our rainbow lanyards so that you can spot us. 
• All staff are welcome.

Find the dates in the EDI events calendar.

Monthly lunch club

• Every month we organise a lunch meeting either in person or online, with a topic for discussion.
• The dates for these are included in our monthly emails. All staff are welcome.
• If you have any questions, please get in touch at equality@york.ac.uk.

Monthly emails

Every month we send out a newsletter to our mailing list.

The newsletter includes forthcoming meetings, notes from previous meetings, events and important things happening at the University, notices or information our network would like shared and updates relevant to our community.

To join the mailing list, please email equality@york.ac.uk.