Post-event: UTS at Mardi Gras Fair Day 2026

A collaboration between the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion and Respect.Now.Always, 27 volunteers represented UTS to celebrate, connect and have meaningful discussions with the community about what pride, respect and allyship look like at UTS and beyond. 

Visitors to the UTS stall could snap a pic in a Tower hat, meet Spud the Pug, and leave with some themed goodies to showcase their pride.

More than a celebration

This year, we surveyed attendees to better understand what makes them feel safe and welcome in learning and work environments. We received an incredible 961 responses letting us know what institutions can do to make queer folk feel authentically included. 

Some responses included:

• providing safe spaces and learning resources
• listening and demonstrating accountability
• having inclusion at the forefront rather than making it feel tokenistic
• not treating difference as a hindrance, but rather a strength
• queer representation that is visible, loud and proud. 

Institutions have a responsibility to ensure that people feel safe and welcome, regardless of their background, gender identity or sexuality says Amy Grady, Communications and Advocacy Officer at the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion.

‘The LGBTQIA+ community is such a big, beautiful and valuable part of our society, and I think one of the most important things we can do as a university community is to push back against the hate and unite to ensure queer folk can be their true and authentic selves, wherever they are.'

For Bridget Geraghty, LGBTQIA+ Project Officer at the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion, visibility and community are the two things that make her feel most safe at work.

‘Things like the Staff Pride Network coffee catchups and the Say My Name. Say My Pronouns. campaign screens mean a lot. Year-round participation and engagement with the LGBTQIA+ community is also important and seeing this shows we're deeply committed to fostering and sustaining a safer community,' Bridget said.

'Current and future students need to know that UTS values their identity and welcomes them for who they are. I think active participation in events like Mardi Gras Fair Day demonstrates our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community.’

UTS has several policies and initiatives in place to support and ensure safety for the LGBTQIA+ community, including gender affirmation leave, all-gender bathrooms and staff and student queer networks.

We will be analysing the survey results to see other areas where we can improve or implement new initiatives to ensure our queer community feels safe and welcome at UTS.