The University of Nottingham has invested in new Progress lanyards and we invite all staff  to wear a lanyard, as either an LGBTQIA+ person or as an ally.

By wearing a lanyard, you signal to colleagues and students that you are a safe person for them to talk to and that you are willing to support them if they need you to. Progress lanyards represent the Progress flag, which has been adopted by the LGBTQIA+ community and uses the original rainbow flag but includes black and brown to represent people of colour within the community, and the colours pink, light blue and white to represent trans and non-binary people as well as those across the gender spectrum.

The progress flag can be seen flying from the Trent Building on key occasions such as the start of LGBT+ History Month.

Those attending LGBT+ History Month events throughout February 2023 may already have a lanyard. If you did not receive a lanyard, please email the EDI Coordinators.

If you weren’t able to attend an event but would still like to demonstrate your allyship to the LGBTQIA+ community, you can make a pledge that you will:

• speak out against hate speech and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people
• commit to an ongoing process of learning how to be an ally, including by listening to LGBTQIA+ people’s lived experiences
• help to create a safe and inclusive environment within your team/department/area

A lanyard will then be sent out to you and your name will be included on a list of LGBTQIA+ allies on the EDI in Practice SharePoint page.

Please note that members of the LGBTQIA+ Staff Network can obtain a lanyard by sending an email for the attention of Craig Butterworth.