Despite being around for years, Cardiff University’s Pride Society was disbanded last year after an unfortunate lack of applications for core committee positions. However, it was resurrected, and brought back for 2024–25 with over sixty members and ten committee members. With many active socials during the year, it is certainly not a society to be slept on.
In a climate of political uncertainty surrounding everyone’s, let alone just queer people’s future, the Pride Society has never been more important. It provides a space for Cardiff University’s queer students to be able to come together. CU Pride offers a place for queer students to flourish together, regardless of their backgrounds or courses.
Being co-president of this society has been an honour, and I’m delighted in being able to celebrate the whole of my community. This sentiment was especially important during a joint social we did with TANGGS, a society focused on building community between transgender and nonbinary people. With TANGGS, we went to a vigil together. The vigil held a wide array of transgender artists, who read poetry, sang, and gave speeches. It was both a celebration of transgender and gender-diverse people, and also a way of honouring those who have sadly lost their lives.
This event is only one of the many successful socials held by CU Pride, which include both café socials and club nights. One of my favourites so far was a collaboration with Cardiff University’s branch of the Make a Smile charity, a charity focused on helping all children enjoy the childhoods they deserve. For this social we held a pub quiz at the North Star, with there being a wide array of shorts for all three of the highest placing teams. With an amazing turnout, we raised £120 which was all donated to the charity.
With many more socials to come, CU Pride is holding a black-tie Winter “Yule” Ball at Revolution. It is definitely not a night to be missed, and we are all extremely excited about it. I personally, cannot wait, and have already brought my suit! This is only one of two balls we plan to hold this year, so make sure to keep an eye out.
Ultimately, I’m excited to see CU Pride grow, and cannot wait to see it flourish after I leave at the end of the year. I am both extremely humbled and grateful for my role in this society, and cannot wait for many more socials.