The colourful flags, outfits and umbrellas bring colour to campus on this grey Thursday. People gather from all over the place for the walk in the Freezone next to EEMCS. The group of about 75 people amiably spread around campus from the meeting point. The “We’re here, we’re queer and we’re never gonna disappear!” chant can be heard once in a while.
After six years, there was again a Pride Walk at TU Delft. From now on the Walk will be held every year in this week, says Julien van Campen, Chair of TrueU, the LGBTQIA+ network at TU Delft. The group organised the march with Outsite, Delft’s LGBTI+ student association.
Sailing at Canal Parade Amsterdam
Van Campen says that the Pride Walk is actually a demonstration. “Because things could be better than they are now. People think that things are going quite well, but things only go well if they go well for the most vulnerable people. And this is not yet the case.”
‘We see more vandalism, hate and slogans in society’
Chai, one of the organisers at Outsite, agrees. “The timing of the Walk could not be better. We see more vandalism, hate and slogans in society. Our rainbow flag is often stolen. Our budget now always includes a pot in which we save to replace it. And a lot of things are thrown at our building.”
There will be more than a walk. The Walk is part of a bigger campaign to make TU Delft more inclusive, make queerness more visible, and create greater mutual understanding for each other. For these reasons, TU Delft will join the Canal Parade in Amsterdam. This is being organised by various students and staff members, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Diversity & Inclusion Office, the TrueU network, and Outsite. Are you a student or staff member and do you want to join the boat? Sign up before 9 June on this link.
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