Tag: Pride

The latest news from LGBT/ gay prides around the UK.

  • WATCH | Peter Tatchell addresses Pride In London

    WATCH | Peter Tatchell addresses Pride In London

    Human rights activist Peter Tatchell addressed thousands of people in Trafalgar Square over the weekend.

    Peter Tatchell Foundation
    Peter Tatchell Foundation

    The long-time rights advocate and campaigner, Peter Tatchell addressed thousands of people at Trafalgar Square over the weekend at Pride In London.

    He spoke for just over four minutes and paid tribute to the Orlando victims as well as standing up for Muslim communities asking to remember not to “demonize” or “scapegoat” Muslim people.

    He called for “solidarity to fight all hate.”

    Remembering the Orlando victims, Tatchell said,

    “It’s hard on this day of joy to not forget the pain and anguish the people of Orlando have felt and are feeling, but we stand in solidarity with LGBT Orlando, we stand in solidarity with LGBT people everywhere who are affected by hate crime.”

     

  • Addison Lee showing their pride by turning 30 cars into rainbows

    Will you be stepping into a rainbow taxi this weekend for Pride in London?

    Addison Lee Pride Car 2

    Addison Lee are coming out in support of the gay community by turning 30 of their fleet into rainbow cars.

    The car service is offering a promotional discount code (*PRIDE10) to help revellers get around on the day of the London parade, Saturday 25th June. Addison Lee will also be donating £5 to Pride for every customer that uses that code right until the end of July.

    This, they hope is a visual reminder of the real investment by Addison Lee in its commitment to the vales of tolerance, equality and diversity.

    Addison Lee Pride Car (3)

    Andy Boland, CEO, Addison Lee says,

    “Addison Lee has been proud to serve all Londoners for over 40 years. Pride is a great opportunity for Addison Lee to celebrate that we do more than anyone else in the industry to train drivers about equality and diversity issues.”

    Michael Salter-Church MBE, Chair, Pride in London says,

    “I salute Addison Lee for the journey that it has undertaken as a business. Its equality, diversity and disability training is unmatched within the minicab industry. We are delighted to have Addison Lee as our transport partner, helping volunteers, performers and others to create a successful Pride.”

     

    Addison Lee has worked for the last three years with Stonewall, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender rights charity, to create an inclusive and accepting environment in its vehicles and offices. The company’s determination to ensure that all of its passengers and drivers feel safe and secure has been recognised by Stonewall with the award of Diversity Champion status.

  • Thousands take part in Portsmouth’s pride parade

    Thousands take part in Portsmouth’s pride parade

    Thousands of people have taken part in Portsmouth’s second annual pride 2016.

    (C) TheGayUK

    Well over a thousand people stood in complete silence in Guidhall Square in the centre of Portsmouth to remember the victims of last week’s massacre in Pulse night club in Orlando, USA.

    The crowd erupted into applause in a show of solidarity for the 49 victims as the town’s bells rung out, before setting off to Parade through the centre of Portsmouth.

    This follows the vigil that was held in Portsmouth the night before, where the Rainbow Voices and local speakers lit candles in memory of the victims.

    Following the attacks, Portsmouth’s famous Spinnaker tower was lit in the rainbow colours.

     

    (C) TheGayUK

    This is the second annual Parade in Portsmouth with thousands speculating and taking part in Hampshire’s largest LGBT+ pride.

  • Everything You Need To Know About Gloucester Pride

    Everything You Need To Know About Gloucester Pride

    Gloucester Pride happens this weekend and thousands of people will be filling up the city to celebrate LGBTI life.

    Glospride Logo

    Gloucester Pride is held on the 11th June this year, taking over the city with it’s extended parade route, followed by a party in the park.

    Where does Gloucester Pride Parade Begin?


    The Gloucester Pride parade starts off at Shire Hall at 11.30am on Saturday 11th June.

    What Route will the Gloucester Pride Parade Take?

    Leaving Shire Hall, the parade will travel around town making it’s way to the main event in Gloucester Park.

    The Festival

    The Pride festival kicks off from 12:00pm until 7:00pm with entertainment from the Main Stage, Cabaret Tent and Dance Tent. PLUS there’s lots of stalls including THEGAYUK stall, where you can buy some Pride Jewellery to help support Pride. Then afterwards the evening entertainment continues at The Station Hotel.

    The day event is Free – Tickets are available for the after party on the day for just £10.

    Who’s Performing At Gloucester Pride?

    Main Stage: Sonia, Lloyd Daniels, Tom Barnwell – The Voice, Ryan Jagger, Feryl, Heather Porter, Charlie Baxter, CC Quinn, Misty Monqiue, Dr Bev, Emily Samways, Kian Taylor-Jackson, Amanda Henderson.

    Cabaret Stage: Sandra, Miss Penny, Monica Tension, Ruby Slippers, Me Myself & Jon, Stephanie Von Clitz, Amy Slade, Stefan, James Negus, Miss Demeanor, Gracie G, Eva Fliction, Pandora LaRoux.

    Dance Tent: Ted O’Shay – DJ

    After Party – Nicki French, Lloyd Daniels, Miss Demeanor, Sisters Of Sass, Speeches, Surprise, Dr Bev, Ryan Jagger, Miss Penny, Gracie G, Last Orders.

    Visit the official Gloucester Pride Website HERE

  • What Time Does Birmingham Pride Start

    What Time Does Birmingham Pride Start

    Thousands of people are expected to take part in this year’s Birmingham Pride. Here’s all the latest information to help you make the most of your day.

    What Time Does Birmingham Pride Start

    The parade for Birmingham Pride starts at 12.00pm (noon) on Saturday 28th May and will be setting off from Victoria Square. It is expected that from start to finish the walking time of the parade is 45 minutes. However the parade itself will take much longer than that because of the number of people involved with this year’s festivities.

    What’s the Birmingham Pride Parade Route.

    After setting off from Victoria Square the parade will then venture down New Street and left onto High street. It will then turn right at Carrs Lane and right again on to Smallbrook Queensway. The parade will then turn left onto Hurst Street until it reaches the Pride festival site.

    Motorists should expect road closures and longer waiting times than usual in the city centre  and it is best to avoid the areas around Hurst Street and Victoria Square.

    The Festival

    The Pride festival kicks off from 12:45PM until 12:00AM and then from 1PM till midnight on Sunday. Entry to the festival is by wristband only. After 8pm only attendees over the age of 18 will be permitted to enter the festival area. Under 18s already within the site are permitted to stay, but if they leave they will not be allowed reentry.

    You can still watch the parade if you don’t have a wristband.

    To buy a wristband click here.

    Tickets cost £40.00 for a weekend pass or £25.00 for Saturday or £25.00for Sunday.

    Concessions are priced at £20.00

    Who’s Performing At Birmingham Pride?

    Fleur East, Katy B, Lawson, Liberty X and Lucy Spraggan are just some of the names confirmed to perform on the Saturday. Sunday’s performers are confirmed to include Andy Bell, DJ Fresh, Lisa Stansfield, MNEK, Blonde, Vengaboys, Karen Harding and Stooshe

    Where to stay?

    TheGayUK recommends both the Hotel Du Vin and La Tour Hotel.

  • Everything You Need To Know About Birmingham Pride

    Everything You Need To Know About Birmingham Pride

    Birmingham Pride happens this weekend and thousands of people will be filling up the city to celebrate LGBTI life.

    (C) ArenaPhotoUK-bigstock

    (C) ArenaPhotoUK-bigstock

    Birmingham Pride is held over the spring bank holiday – this year that falls on the 28th and 29th May. For two days Birmingham City centre will give way to one of the UK’s biggest pride events, with over 2600 people apparently taking part in the parade.

    Where does Birmingham Pride Parade Begin?

    The Birmingham Pride parade starts off at Victoria Square at 12.00pm (noon) on Saturday 28th May.

    What Route will the Birmingham Pride Parade Take?

    Leaving Victoria Square, the parade will travel down New Street and left onto High street. It will then turn right at Carrs Lane and right again on to Smallbrook Queensway. The parade will then turn left onto Hurst Street until it reaches the Pride festival site.

    The Festival

    The Pride festival kicks off from 12:45PM until 12:00AM and then from 1PM till midnight on Sunday. Entry to the festival is by wristband only. After 8pm only attendees over the age of 18 will be permitted to enter the festival area. Under 18s already within the site are permitted to stay, but if they leave they will not be allowed reentry.

    You can still watch the parade if you don’t have a wristband.

    To buy a wristband click here.

    Tickets cost £33.55 / £37.95 for a weekend pass or £23.65 for Saturday or £19.80 for Sunday.

    Concessions are priced at £15.40 to £17.60.

    Who’s Performing At Birmingham Pride?

    Fleur East, Katy B, Lawson, Liberty X and Lucy Spraggan are just some of the names confirmed to perform on the Saturday. Sunday’s performers are confirmed to include Andy Bell, DJ Fresh, Lisa Stansfield, MNEK, Blonde, Vengaboys, Karen Harding and Stooshe

    Where to stay?

    TheGayUK recommends both the Hotel Du Vin and La Tour Hotel.

     

  • What To Take To A Gay Pride – The Gay Pride Survival Kit

    Pride season is upon us. Hundreds of thousands LGBTI folk up and down the nation will be visiting Pride festivals all over the UK… Here’s what you should take with you.

    Portsmouth Pride

    With Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people visiting one of over 60 prides across the UK, it’s a good idea to go prepared. They are often crowded and expensive and outdoors so here’s our top 10 tips on how to survive pride.

    1) Raincoat

    CREDIT: chalabala / bigstock
    CREDIT: chalabala / bigstock

    Pack a raincoat. I know it’s not sexy – make it a Vivienne Westwood if you have to, but the British weather can not be relied upon to be good. Make sure it has a hood – hair straighteners won’t work in the middle of a field in a portaloo.

    2) Battery Powerpack

    CREDIT: TheGayShop

    Smartphones are amazing at capturing the moment whether it’s through pictures, face time or you being able to update your social about who’s doing who. The only problem is the battery never lasts long enough. So grab a power source. Pride in London have released their very own this year – well worth the £12.00 – plus they come already charged.

    3) Medication

    (C) Garyphoto:Depositphotos.com

    Only the legal sort. Take painkillers. Nothing kills the moment than a stinking hideous headache caused by whatever this year’s headliner is supposed to be. Also take any meds you take on a daily basis. Take a 24 hour supply – just in case you don’t go back to yours.

    4) Secret Tenner

    Stuff it in your pants, your socks or secret it away somewhere else. You’ll never know when it might come in handy.

    5) Uber

    If you find yourself in a place you don’t know summon an Uber cab. If your area doesn’t yet have Uber then make sure you know the local cab firm’s telephone number or download their app. Make sure you have enough battery on your phone to make that call.

    6) Sun protection

    Silhouette of muscle boy on beautiful hot background
    Silhouette of muscle boy on beautiful hot background

    Despite the fact that it’s overcast you can still get burnt to buggery so make sure you wear sunblock. If you’re looking for a sunblock that doesn’t go all white and sticky so you look like a sweaty pig – we suggest Image Skincare prevention + daily matt moisturiser – expensive but well worth the extra.

    7) Condoms and lube

    colorful condom on white background seven day a week

    You might get lucky so bring some protection and you might even get lucky with more than one person so bring lots. If you don’t use them – share them with your mates – make sure they’re protected too!

    8) Spare undies

    CREDIT ©-Artmim Depositphotos
    CREDIT ©-Artmim Depositphotos

    If you end up at someone else’s place you might want to bring a spare pair of undies – you know so the walk of shame isn’t so Ewwww.

    9) Antibacterial lotion

    The last thing you want to do is pick up a bug from one of the many thousands of people who will attend pride, so pick up some anti-bacterial lotion. Many of the portaloos provided at pride will also have anti-bacterial handwash for free.

    10) Ear plugs

    ©-Den.Barbulat-Depositphotos
    ©-Den.Barbulat-Depositphotos

    Protect your eardrums. Sounds from the stage could well permanently damage your hearing – with noises louder than a Jumbo Jet taking off.

     

    For further reading take a look at Antony Simpson’s Pride Survival article.

  • Madrid Pride Roundup

    Madrid Pride. It’s one of, if not the, largest Pride events in Europe. Visited by around 2 million people every year, this week long festival is jam packed full of amazing parties, events, street festivals and a parade that will knock the socks of anyone game enough to visit. Known as Orgullo (Spanish for Pride), the whole event is open to, and greatly visited by, people from all walks of life, so finding your LGBT+ brothers and sisters may be a little trickier earlier in the festival.

    Madrid Pride
    CREDIT: Aaron Holloway

    Not only is the Main Parade on Saturday afternoon at 6pm, the WE Party festival begins a few days earlier and provides a mega-gay party event every day until the end of the festival. For those who aren’t into the massive man-flesh crush that is a circuit festival – and I know you’re out there – the City of Madrid offered a complete week of events and live music concerts and DJ’s to keep you dancing until the early hours of morning.

    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway

    Our week began with a short trip from the airport to Madrid centre which is easily accessible by a combination of the Metro (40+ mins) or the Metro and the TVL train (20+ mins). The tickets are available in cards of ten, and you’ll need to buy an airport pass for a few euro extra per person when you leave the airport on the metro. Exact fares and combinations available alter depending on if you’re arriving to T 1-3, or T4, but the trip takes about 30 minutes, and costs less than 5€ each way.

    Once in town, we had a cosy little apartment looking over Placa del Sol, which is a main meeting point, tourist hub and metro/highspeed rail station. From Sol it’s a short walk up the affectionately named ‘Hooker Street’, which is lined with women asking you to dine in her restaurant, or men and women, offering more intimate nights out, towards Chueca which is the main gay area of the city. Not that during Pride it’s easy to tell the gay areas from the non-gay areas: pride flags fly from almost every balcony, shop window, store front, stores have ‘pride sales’, and seeming pop-up-stores appear out of nowhere to sell ‘minis’, which are basically 700ml cups of mojito or sangria. No one seems to know why they’re called minis – it’s just a Madrid thing.

    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway
    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway
    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway

    All around Chueca you can find singing, dancing, music, and people relaxing and drinking, and generally having a good time. It’s here that you can find tiny little bars that will sell you a beer for 6€ and also give you a plate of tapas for free – each new beer brings a new plate – it can be a very cheap way to eat out on some local(ish) specialties. Speaking of specialties, *the* thing to eat in Madrid is calamari on a baguette, and the best place to have it, is a cute little diner called The Little Bell. It seems to be almost all they serve, and is literally deep-fried calamari on a short baguette bread. It’s wonderfully delicious if not a little strange. As my friend Matt commented: ‘How is seafood a specialty in a city in the middle of Spain?’ While we’re on food, traditional Madrid food is a wonderful mix of seafood and meat. Dishes are covered more in oil than not, and if you want a salad with your plate of meat, make sure you order a side salad, or you might literally get a quarter of a tomato as your salad. It seemed to me that the lovely Spaniards aren’t big on ‘healthy’ eating.

    Aaron Holloway
    Aaron Holloway
    Aaron Holloway
    Aaron Holloway

    Despite the seemingly unhealthy food, the Spaniards are generally a very attractive people. And the Pride parade gives them ample opportunity to show it all off. The parade starts at 6pm, so that it’s not too hot, although when we arrived to watch at about 8pm, the local firefighters were hosing down the crowd with the truck hoses. Unfortunately they were all fully dressed. The crowd on the other hand, not so much. While some people just went shirtless, others came in costumes of all kinds, rainbows were flying from every visible hand, surface, tree, and body. They even had a massive rainbow flag draped over the Madrid Town Hall from top to bottom in the first time in the parade’s history. The parade made its way slowly down the street past a water fountain lit in rainbow colours, towards the Town Hall, where a massive stage had been set up to provide a live band and an all-night party to entertain the crowd for hours. One of the interesting things about the Madrid pride is that it is not only frequented by Madrid’s gay population, but also by other members of the general community, bringing families and friends together to enjoy the celebration of individual expression and acceptance that embodies the modern pride parade era.

    Madrid Pride
    CREDIT: Aaron Holloway
    Madrid Pride
    CREDIT: Aaron Holloway

    Madrid Pride


    ADVERT

    [adinserter block=”1″]


    The Madrid pride festival runs for a week at the beginning of July each year. Dates vary from year to year, the parade is always on the Saturday at the end of the festival beginning at 6pm. Nightly free street festivals and concerts are presented by the City of Madrid free of charge at various sites around the city.

    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway
    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway
    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway
    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway
    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway
    Madrid Pride
    Aaron Holloway

    Madrid is serviced by all major airlines from cities across the UK and Europe.

  • Will Philip Hammond Fly The Pride Flag This Year?

    A book maker is taking bets on whether Foreign Secretary will ban the Foreign Office flying the rainbow flag for Pride 2016.

    (more…)

  • 23 Incredible Gay Pride Quotes

    There are some amazing LGBT Pride quotes out there, here are some of our favourites.

    “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.”
    – Harvey Milk

    “Being gay is natural. Hating gay is a lifestyle choice.”
    – John Fugelsang

    “Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?”
    – Ernest Gaines

    “It always seemed to me a bit pointless to disapprove of homosexuality. It’s like disapproving of rain.”
    – Francis Maude

    Understand that sexuality is as wide as the sea. Understand that your morality is not law. Understand that we are you. Understand that if we decide to have sex whether safe, safer, or unsafe, it is our decision and you have no rights in our lovemaking.
    – Derek Jarman

    Marriage should be between a spouse and a spouse, not a gender and a gender.
    – Hendrik Hertzberg

    At some point in our lifetime, gay marriage won’t be an issue, and everyone who stood against this civil right will look as outdated as George Wallace standing on the school steps keeping James Hood from entering the University of Alabama because he was black.
    -George Clooney

    I hate the word Homophobia. It’s not a phobia. You’re not scared. You’re an asshole.
    – Morgan Freeman

    People only attack what they fear.
    – Petrie Hosken

    When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.
    – Barack Obama

    We’re sick of hearing people say, “That band is so gay,” or “Those guys are fags.” Gay is not a synonym for shitty. If you wanna say something’s sh*tty, say it’s shitty. Stop being such homophobic assholes.
    – Pete Wentz

    Kim Kardashian made 17 million dollars off her wedding. Divorced 72 days later & they’re worried about gays ruining the sanctity of marriage?
    – @WorldGayPride

    Is being gay a phase? Alright then… It started when I was born and it’ll end when I die.
    – Jake Hook

    When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.
    – Epitaph of Leonard P. Matlovich

    My lesbianism is an act of Christian charity. All those women out there praying for a man, and I’m giving them my share.
    – Rita Mae Brown

    Don’t hide behind the Constitution or the Bible. If you’re against gay marriage, just be honest, put a scarlet ‘H’ on your shirt, and say, “I am a homophobe!”
    – Henry Rollins

    If homosexuality is a disease, let’s all call in queer to work: “Hello. Can’t work today, still queer.”
    – Robin Tyler

    War. Rape. Murder. Poverty. Equal rights for gays. Guess which one the Southern Baptist Convention is protesting?
    -The Value of Families

    My mother took me to a psychiatrist when I was fifteen because she thought I was a latent homosexual. There was nothing latent about it.
    – Amanda Bearse

    Rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love.
    – Neil Patrick Harris

    My thoughts on gay marriage are that everyone has the right to love and be loved, and that’s the position I take.
    – Nick Jonas

    Being transgender, like being gay, tall, short, white, black, male, or female, is another part of the human condition that makes each individual unique, and something over which we have no control. We are who we are in the deepest recesses of our minds, hearts and identities.
    – Linda Thompson

  • COMMENT | Manchester Pride & Me: A time for community

    I recently attended one of the best pride events I have been to in a long time. For me, Manchester pride is a shining example of how a pride should be.

    The reminders of our past, the celebration of our achievements and the hope for our future all wrapped up in 1 event. All you have to do is look around at how everyone interacts and how the businesses operate and you get such a sense of community in the air. I’ve been to many different prides over the last 10 years or so including some of those in Europe and I would gladly place Manchester pride up there amongst the best.

    Yes I had a cider or 2, but then I’d have a cider or 2 regardless of it being pride. But for me it was a weekend of friends, old and new, learning about new things and pushing my boundaries to do and experience new things. To challenge some of my own prejudices and short comings and come out the other side with a sense of achievement.

    On the Monday evening, for those that did not stay the full weekend, in the community park a candle lit vigil occurs on behalf of the Georges House Trust (GHT). GHT have been in Manchester offering HIV-related services & support for 30 years and this year decided to remember those 30 years and some of those that have used the service.

    Each of the various different national and local well-known figures brought with them to the stage a memory, a memory of someone close to them that they are there to remember. Someone who cannot be with us but is with us in our hearts. Each talk, albeit short, was utterly moving and emotional. A local theatre company performed a selection of calls that had been received by the GHT to their telephone support line. The 3 performers read out the ‘call diary’ of the volunteers on call that detailed what the call was and what advice was given.

    Some calls were sweet. Some calls were creepy. Some were routine and some revealed the sheer scale of horror and injustice that living with HIV was like in the 80s and 90s. You could not help but be moved to tears when you hear about a man losing his partner because he committed suicide after finding out he was HIV+, or a mother so scared for her HIV+ son that she turns to the GHT for help in utter desperation. In each call the GHT volunteers were there to help and they, and all other organisations throughout the world that offer a similar service, are truly a shining light in the darkness of someone’s desperation.

    Many people ask me “what is the point of pride” especially when we enjoy such freedoms and exposure these days and all the say is a load of youths drinking. For me I answer with this; pride is not a march, it is a parade. It’s a celebration of all we have achieved but also a remembrance of all those we have lost. Those that have given their lives or suffered greatly fighting for what is right deserve to see the benefits of their work. To be remembered and celebrated and to allow people to be whomever they want to be and live in a world with no prejudice for phobia. Even if that is only during the pride festivities.

    Pride also reminds us is that we have still a long way to go on some areas. In the recent Dean Street data incident, the fact that some people have taken that list of email addresses and are sending the recipients abusive messages shows that HIV ignorance and prejudice is still a problem in this country. Even some of the news agencies listed Dean Street as an “AIDS clinic” rather than the sexual health clinic that it is. So long as ignorance and intolerance of HIV & AIDS exists then work will go on. For that matter, so long as HIV still exists then the work will go on.

    GHT handed out to everyone and encouraged them to share these 5 facts about HIV via social media. I encourage everyone to do the same. Even if you don’t engage in pride or know of anyone that has suffered with HIV you can do your bit and simply share some common facts to promote awareness.

    1 – Testing regularly for HIV is the right thing to do

    2 – Medication is stopping HIV from being passed on

    3 – HIV is a manageable condition when diagnosed early

    4 – People living with HIV are enjoying happy and fulfilling relationships

    5 – Positive attitudes encourage discussion about HIV

    by Scott Sammons | @i_scotty