Colleges around Cambridge this week flew the rainbow flag as part of initiative co-ordinated by the CUSU LGBT+ campaign to mark the beginning of LGBT History Month.

While the pride flag was conspicuous by its absence atop some colleges, among the colleges where it could be seen on Monday were Clare, Christ’s, Downing, Emmanuel, Homerton, King’s, Magdalene, Pembroke, Robinson, Selwyn, Sidney Sussex, and St Catharine’s.

Corpus Christi College joined the ranks of the colleges flying the flag on Tuesday following a meeting of the college’s governing body, where the motion was passed with little resistance. The flag was only flown for the day, however.

On Wednesday Newnham College also raised the flag, having previously flown their college flag at half-mast on Monday for reasons that Varsity has been unable to ascertain.

Elsewhere, the rainbow flag will continue to fly for the duration of February, for instance above Emmanuel College’s South Court.

This is not the first time the pride flag has been seen in Cambridge, however. St Catharine’s College hoisted the flag in 2014 in honour of the actor Sir Ian McKellen after he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university. Likewise, Homerton has previously flown the flag.

Among the colleges that didn’t fly the flag were Gonville and Caius, St John’s, Trinity, and Wolfson.

In a Facebook post that has since been deleted, Trinity College Students’ Union (TCSU) said that Trinity would not be flying the flag as the college did not want to “set a precedent to deviate from the traditional flag schedule”.

Jesus College is also yet to fly the rainbow flag, as the college awaits the outcome of a vote by the College Council on the issue. In the meantime, however, the flag is visible in the Jesus College porters’ lodge.