THEGAYUK

Tag: Pride

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

  • Political Pride, An Alternative Pride In Manchester This Bank Holiday

    Since it began in 1995, Manchester Pride has grown into the UK’s largest pride event. The four days of the August Bank Holiday weekend sees teams of thousands descend on the city to party and watch performances from the likes of Texas and Danni Minogue.

    But with a tagline of Taking Pride Back To Its Roots, just a short walk from Manchester’s famous Gay Village, this year a team of volunteers are running a free two day event for the LGBT community called Political Pride. It’s designed to be an alternative to the commercial, mainstream weekend programme taking place around Canal Street.

    Catherine O’Donnell, one of the organisers of Political Pride explains where the idea came from.

    “It was originally conceived by LGBT Youth North West. They have a lot of young people who take part on their float in the parade every year but after it’s finished there is nowhere for them to go as they’re under 18”

    “So this is an alternative space for them or people who don’t want to drink or those who want to think about what Pride was originally’’

    With a weekend of events including international film screenings by Queer Story Showcase, spoken word performances, workshops and discussions, activism is very much at the heart of Political Pride.

    ‘’One of our events is a panel discussion called Where Do We Go From Here? For example, after same sex marriage, there are still problems with that legislation especially for the trans community. So we are thinking about what are the next things to fight, not just in the UK but globally as well. There is still obviously a lot of homophobia”

    “We want to connect historical events to what’s happening today and inspire for the future.”

    Amongst all the serious discussion, the organisers are also keen to stress that there is much fun to be had at their weekend of events, especially bearing in mind that with Manchester Pride taking place around the bars and clubs of Canal Street, they’re programme is very much created with young families in mind.

    “There is a picnic in the park. And we have an indoor space too so if it rains it doesn’t matter!

    And there will be a lot of arts and crafts. We’re going to be doing some banner and badge making, thinking about the political side of art and how it can be used to make protest materials.

    Plus great news for fans of Great British Bake Off. Political Pride is presenting an opportunity to show off your skills. With a twist.

    Catherine O’Donnell explains,

    “On Sunday we have a cake competition. There will be prizes for the best tasting cake but also for the best political slogan. It will be very competitive. Make Cake Not War!!!”

    With support from Proud 2 B Parents, LGBT Youth North West and Manchester Metropolitan University, the overtly activism focused side of Political Pride will certainly not be to everybody’s taste. But on a weekend when the gay community are at its most visible in the city, an opportunity to hear different voices and perspectives can only be a positive step.

    Political Pride takes place in venues in Manchester City Centre on 29th and 30th August.

    More details can be found on their website http://politicalpride.weebly.com

  • Anti-Gay Leaflets Distributed To Households In Margate Before Kent Pride

    Leaflets which urge householders not to support gay pride in Margate have been distributed through the letterboxes of Kent homes just days before the annual pride.

    The homophobic leaflet, which was delivered through the letterboxes of hundreds of homes in Margate urges residents to stay away from the pride parade and that Margate will never be MarGAYte.

    Margate’s pride parade returns this year on the 29th August. The parade will start at 11am from the Lido car park.

    The leaflet also seemingly links homosexuality with paedophilia as it calls for residents to “save yourself and your children”

     

    The highly offensive note has been derided by the local community with volunteer pride co-ordinator Tony Butcher telling the KentOnline.co.uk,

    “This is a horrendous act and these people are inciting a riot.

    “The comments are absurd, we are people who like other people of the same sex and to suggest we are paedophiles is absolutely ridiculous.”

     

    This is not the first time a pride event has been targeted by a malicious maildrop in 2014 households in Brighton received an anti-gay flyer and in November 2014 residents in Ely, Cambridgeshire also received a homophobic note through the door.

     

     

  • Where Is Glasgow Pride Setting Off From?

    This year’s Pride in Glasgow will be set over two days with the main Pride parade taking place on Saturday the 22nd August.

    The main parade will take place on the 22nd August 2015 and will commence from 12:15.

    Meeting Point:

    The meeting point for the Pride Parade will be Glasgow Green from 12:15. The parade will set off at 1 PM and return back to Glasgow Green at 2 PM.

    The parade will take the following route:

    Greendyke St, Saltmarket, Trongate, Albion St, Ingram St, South Frederick St, George Sq South Aspect, St Vincent Pl, St Vincent St, Renfield St, Union St, Jamaica St, Clyde St, Bridgegate, Steel St, Turnbull St, Greendyke St, Glasgow Green.

    You can buy tickets for the event here.

  • INTERVIEW: Jersey Gets Its Own Pride, We Speak With Its Chair, Christian May

    Jersey’s Pride, which is to happen on the 12th September has a very dedicated Committee of twelve individuals (from across the LGBTQ spectrum) who are organising Pride, whilst still doing their day jobs!

    What led to you wanting to get the first Pride going?

    The idea for Pride, and the origins of Liberate in Jersey, grew organically out of a public march that took place in July 2014; when the members of our parliament (the States of Jersey) had refused to approve equal marriage legislation in Jersey (wanting more information first). The response to this was a powerful and positive public demonstration, when Islanders came together to give a message to the States that they supported LGBTQ rights and that they wanted equal marriage in the Island. The atmosphere that day was electric and hopeful; something we want to replicate in Pride.

     

    Is there a big LGBT community? And how is the acceptance of LGBT issues on the Islands?

    There was a strong (and reasonably large) LGBTQ community on the Island approximately 10 years ago, but this dissipated when the Island’s only gay nightclub, the Cosmopolitan, closed its doors.

    Since Liberate came into existence we have held regular social nights to bring the community back together, and these have been going from strength to strength. LGBTQ individuals don’t suffer much harassment or active discrimination on the Island, but at the same time sexuality is an issue not much discussed publicly.

    We want to ensure LGBTQ Islanders do not feel that they have to hide their sexuality in order to “fit-in” in work or social situations; that requires ongoing education and support.

     

    Are you hoping to get the council and authorities to back the pride, have you had any talks with them so far?

    We have delighted by the level of support for pride from the Government and the Parish (our town authority), as well as from local businesses, who are providing seed funding to get Pride up and running.

    There is a great desire to build Jersey’s tourism industry in the coming years with Event-led tourism, and we hope that Pride could become a central and ongoing feature of this plan!

     

    How many people are currently working towards putting the pride event on?

    We have a very dedicated Committee of twelve individuals (from across the LGBTQ spectrum) who are organising Pride, whilst still doing their day jobs!

    We are a very close group who luckily get on very well socially as well as when delegating tasks (you often need a drink after, or with, committee meetings). We are also being provided with plenty of offers of volunteer help – which will be essential to ensure the smooth running of Pride on 12 September.

  • PRIDE: Four Days Until Pride Cymru…

    This weekend, 15th August, sees Cardiff hold their 2015 Pride Cymru – Wales’ largest annual celebration of equality and diversity. Run entirely by the charity of volunteers, its purpose is to promote the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender, race, religion and others who have been faced with adversity from society.

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  • PRIDE: Swindon & Wiltshire Pride Ready To Party In The Park

    After a packed park last year, Swindon & Wiltshire Pride are ready to do it all again this weekend. Good weather, check. Headline acts, booked. Carnival parade, final feathers, glitter and sequins being sewn on!

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  • Channel Island Gay Pride Starts Fundraising

    An organisation called Liberate Jersey has started a fundraising campaign to start a gay pride event in September.

    The crowdfunder is looking to raise £2500 to help launch the very first LGBT+ Pride, because the organisers state, “it’s long overdue”.

    Homosexuality has been legal in Jersey since 1990 and same-sex couple has been able to get civilly partnered since 2012, however same-sex marriage is still illegal.

    TheGayUK reached out to Liberate for comment.

  • UKIP Defies Gay Pride Ban And Jumps Barriers At London Pride

    Despite a ban on the political party by the organisers of London’s pride parade yesterday, members of UKIP’s LGBT group joined the parade.

    ◉ 20-25 UKIP LGBT Members jumped the barriers to join parade.

    ◉ UKIP LGBT deputy chair slams Peter Tatchell.

    ◉ The group was banned due to “safety” concerns

    Around 20 to 25 members of UKIP’s LGBT group jumped the barriers at London’s pride parade yesterday. Their actions were made despite being slapped with a “health and safety” ban by the Pride organisers.

    Concerns over safety forced Pride In London organisers to ban the political party. Over 250 organisations, including other political parties were allowed to march in the UK’s biggest gay pride parade.

    The ban on UKIP was slammed by many, including Katie Hopkins and openly gay Lib Dem Lord, Sir Brian Paddick, who said, “After years of campaigning to be acknowledged and accepted by society, the last thing LGBTI people should be doing is excluding a group gays and lesbians from Pride that has a legal right to exist.

    “The police and organisers should be facilitating their right to peacefully and safely participate, not using understandable hatred of UKIP as an excuse to ban them.”

    FREEDOM OF SPEECH?

    In a poll by TheGayUK readers, 71% thought that UKIP should have been allowed to march within the parade.

    Speaking to TheGayUK Nathan Garbutt, the deputy chairman for UKIP LGBT said,

    “There were about 20 to 25 of us in total from all parts of the UK. We were determined to be there despite the ban because we wanted to represent the 2 million people that voted UKIP and the 600 members of LGBT UKIP, who identify as gay and vote UKIP.

    “We had a really positive response, until the end.

    “The organisers and stewards along the route let us participate.

    This is a free democratic country… We have a right to be there.

    “People like Peter Tatchell and the people who got us banned, should be ashamed of themselves… He doesn’t have to agree with our politics, but he should have welcomed us.”

    UKIP LGBT plan to appear at other pride events across the UKIP, including Brighton and Manchester. Their next appearance will be at Leeds pride on the 2nd August.

  • Thousands Enjoy First Portsmouth Pride In 13 Years

    Thousands Enjoy First Portsmouth Pride In 13 Years

    Portsmouth celebrated its first Pride event in 13 years yesterday, with thousands turning out for its parade and park celebrations.

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  • OPINION | Why pride?

    At the moment I’m currently working to promote the third year of Warrington pride. The theme that has been selected this year is Pride. At promotional events over summer we’ve been asking people to fill out cards to say what they are proud of.

    I haven’t completed mine yet, as I’m not sure what the answer is.

    I think as a community we become a cynical old bunch. Subtle Homophobia and living in a heteronormative society means that we are outsiders. I’ve almost become numb to this fact.

    Each year we can see and attend pride events which show us the diversity across the communities. This year in Manchester Pride, my boyfriend and I were drawn into a debate as to whether or not the rubber men should be part of the parade. He felt it was not part of sexuality and was a fetish so should not be there as a part of the gay community. We disagreed because to deny any aspect of sexuality across the LGBT spectrum would force it back into the closet and place shame and guilt onto those that identify with that label. I have previously written an article on the dangers of slut-shaming and I think those lessons are prevalent here.

    I also encountered negativity within the LGBT community from people who thought that groups were not representative as a whole. Groups are there to offer peer support and help to those who need it. I don’t want or need any group to represent me or be my voice.

    I have my own.

    The bears are doing their thing and the lipstick lesbians can do their own thing. They don’t need to represent each other. The village community in Manchester is diverse and strong enough so everyone gets their own time without it feeling like they are invading each other’s space. Aside from the pride events, there are things such as the “To Russia With Love” protests earlier this year. This saw the village come together to fundraise and support the LGBT community in Russia.

    What I’m proud of is the diversity we represent. Each and every one of us came out and stood up because we refused to compromise our sense of self just to fit in.

    We didn’t want to be who people told us we should be in the “straight” world why should that change in the LGBT community. We have seen abuse, we’ve seen hatred. We’ve been the victims of cheap jokes. We’ve battled to start to gain some small measure of equality.

    But we endured and stayed together. Pride for me, is about the community. Both local and online. It’s about anyone that talks to us at a fund raising event. Even if you are straight you know someone who isn’t and that person might need support or solidarity. Pride is about being yourself and not having to compromise of your integrity or beliefs and still being able to fit into an imperfect and beautifully weird group of people like me.

    I don’t need to know what drives or inspires you. I don’t even need to know your name. I just need to accept you and hope you will accept me.

    Warrington pride is on 27th September in Queens Gardens, Warrington

    http://warringtonpride.com

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, it’s management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • Pride In Bournemouth Today – Bourne Free

    It’s looking to be a beautiful day in sunny Bournemouth for the 10th BourneFree LGBT Pride.

    So if you’re looking for something to do today that’s proud, we suggest you head on over to Bournemouth to celebrate Pride.

    The parade will be starting at East Cliff at 11:00am and finish at 12:00PM the full postcode is: East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AF.

    As BourneFree is celebrating 10 years, the theme for the year is Decades.

    So come join us on Saturday 12th July from 11AM to watch an array of Floats, Busses & Walking Groups, fabulously decked out in our decades theme, parade through Bournemouth Town Centre. With 26 groups (43 sections in total) this years parade is promising to be our largest yet. For those who would like to be in the parade who are not part of an organised entry we have a large rainbow flag that needs to be carried along the route, just turn up by 10:50AM at the parade starting point on East Overcliff Drive (BH1 3AN). Bring water a smile and be ready to have lots of fun.

    Performing on the bandstand is: Katy Perry Dreams Mary Mac Showstoppers
    Carpentones Cinderz Pumpkin Soup
    Jazz Blaack BFGT runners up – Glitterati
    Tracie Redding Chicken Soup Choir
    Danielle Watson

    Hosted by Lea Martin, Sheila Tackya & Grace Lightning – Entertainment will go on until 4:30PM.

    Then it moves on to the triangle where you can see the likes of Misha B, Damage and Kimberley Watts. Wristbands are required for the triangle, these can be bought at the door for £10.

    – See more at: http://bournefree.co.uk/more-news-here-triangle-news/#sthash.7bKzVFxW.dpuf