Throughout February – which is LGBT History Month – the University is unveiling three new rainbow ‘zebra’ crossings to demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity and to celebrate the diversity of our staff and students.

The inspiration comes from your own suggestions and the recent installation of a rainbow road by Nottingham City Council on Broad Street in the city centre. You will be able to find the crossings in the following locations:

• University Park: On East Drive outside Portland Building
• Sutton Bonington: Outside the Gateway Building
• Jubilee Campus: Outside the Yang Fujia Building

The crossings feature the same colours used in the Pride flag, with the addition of black and brown stripes to recognise the intersectional relationship between the LGBT+ and black and multi-ethnic (BME) communities.

The first crossing was unveiled on Friday 7 February by Sam Hawkins, the Students’ Union LGBT+ Officer, and Professor Sarah Sharples, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The other rainbow crossings will be unveiled on the following dates, and all students are welcome to attend:

• Sutton Bonington: 11am, Wednesday 12 February
• Jubilee Campus: 12pm, Wednesday 19 February

By installing rainbow crossings on three of our campuses, this sends out a very clear message to our students, both current and prospective, that the University of Nottingham is an institution that values equity, and that bigotry of any kind is not tolerated.

Sam continued: “The rainbow crossings challenge some of the systematic barriers which prevent people from bringing their best selves to their degree. It says “we see your struggle, and we are here to support you”. Furthermore, the addition of the brown and black stripes aims to celebrate the countless Black LGBT+ trailblazers who started the gay rights movement whilst also being a symbol of support for racially marginalised members of the LGBT+ community.

“Across the world, rainbow crossings have been installed in cities such as London, Sydney and Paris. Therefore, I am incredibly proud to say that we now have our very own at the University of Nottingham.”

Find out what else is going on around our campuses to celebrate LGBT History Month.