Pride in the UK

Pride in the UK

This year’s gay pride season in the UK kicks off with Pride London from June 17 to July 3, followed by Pride Brighton & Hove on Britain’s south coast from August 6 to 14.

Last year’s Pride London was attended by upwards of 1,000,000 people — making it the largest outdoor event in the UK.

Pride London’s Festival Fortnight is a two-week program of music, theatre, dance, comedy, visual arts, sport, debate, film, fashion, participation and literature events that take place all across London, culminating in Parade Day on July 2.

This year London Pride is celebrating 40 years of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF). The GLF was a revolutionary group of radical queens, hippies, students and activists who brought the issue of LGBT rights into the public arena in the UK in the early 1970s through street theatre, radical drag and kiss-ins. The group organised the first Pride March in London.

The parade sets off from Baker St (yes, Sherlock Holmes’ Baker St) at 1pm and proceeds down Oxford St and Regent St, taking in some of the city’s major sites before swinging through Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square.

At Trafalgar Square you’ll find an eclectic mix of speakers, stalls and a great line-up performers on the main stage from 3pm. Alternatively, you can head to Soho where you’ll find a big street party in full swing.

With stages and bars dotted around town you’ll find plenty of entertainment or a place to chill with mates or space to make new friends. Organisers say there truly is a place for everyone at this fabulous free event.

Although not as big as Pride London, Pride Brighton & Hove takes place in what has become officially known as the ‘gay capital of the UK’ — the sunny seaside resort town of Brighton.

Join in the beach volleyball tournament, watch the parade, or check out the Brighton Pride beach or street party.

Last year so many people turned out for Brighton Pride that the local council opened up sports fields for campers just to fit everyone in.

People looking for further partying can check out Manchester Pride from August 19 – 29, centred around the gay village that inspired the original Queer As Folk.

You May Also Like

One response to “Pride in the UK”

  1. Sorry, but the 2011 gay pride season in UK has already kicked-off – as was the case last year, Exeter Pride was the first and was staged 10 days ago! Last weekend was North Wales Pride in Angelsey and this coming Easter weekend it is Student Pride in Brighton. In May there are 3 Pride and 6 in June before we start thinking about Pride London!