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Rise with Pride: UM raises the flag for inclusion

On Monday, staff and students came together on the lawn near UNS40 to mark the start of Pride Month with a moment of reflection and solidarity. Vice President Jan-Tjitte Meindersma raised the Progress Pride Flag on behalf of the university, in a visible sign of support for LGBTQIA+ members of the UM community and for LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.

The event brought together voices from across the university. In addition to remarks from Vice President Meindersma, we heard moving reflections from UM Pride President Leonarda Bardić, staff member Josh Tendai and Farbod Nael from Pride Maastricht. Their messages highlighted that Pride is both a celebration and a call to action — a chance to honour progress, but also to acknowledge the ongoing struggles for equal rights and acceptance.

This year’s gathering served as a timely reminder of why visible support matters. As Meindersma pointed out, just two weeks ago, ILGA-Europe released the 2025 Rainbow Europe index, which revealed a worrying decline in LGBTQIA+ rights across the continent.

At UM, we recognise that inclusion isn't something we can take for granted— it requires constant attention and care. Even within our own community, there is always more we can do.

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Staff and students take a small Pride flag at the Pride month flag raising event

We thank everyone who took part in the event as well as those who continue, in big ways and small, to help create a university where everyone feels safe, seen and supported.

Pride flags across UM

To mark Pride Month, Progress Pride Flags are also being displayed on UM buildings across multiple locations, including the roof of UNS50, the tower at BOU1–3, the Student Services Centre, GG 90–92, PHS1, Dub30, and Deb15 (University Sports Centre). These flags were made available to building managers through the Diversity & Inclusivity Office. 

Photography: Joris Hilterman

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