Happy Pride Month, all! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
June’s here and we’re set to see even more wonderful events taking place to celebrate, support and stand with the LGBTQ+ community. We wholeheartedly believe that Pride is an all-year-round celebration alongside the continual the fight against discrimination and injustice, across the journey of freedom.
Many wonderful events are really beginning to ramp up and with events taking place all over the globe, we thought we’d take a closer look at what’s happening around our local and surrounding areas, as we’re based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. Firstly, let’s take a look back at Birmingham Pride that took place on the 24th and 25th May!
(Images via Birmingham Pride/Birmingham Live)
The streets of Birmingham were lined with wonderful celebration, as parade marchers and onlookers attended the cities festivities and show their support. Both Saturday and Sunday’s festival line up were full of good vibes, as attendees were treated to performances from Alexandra Burke, The Vengaboys, Claire Richards, Cascada and many more. Perhaps some of the other laydehs were covering Sec*hand Chances’ tills, as business icon Charity Shop Sue and shop assistant Viki even made an appearance with main stage sponsors, Jet2 – Oh how we in the warehouse love her!
It really is incredible to see so many events continue to go from strength to strength, as Birmingham Pride saw their first event take place back in 1997. Over 40,000 people are said to have attended the weekend festival, with over 75,000 either marching or viewing the annual Pride parade. Each year appears to gain more footfall than the last, proving time and again that Pride events and LGBTQ+ friendly spaces are so incredibly important.
What’s On 🗓️
As for what’s on the horizon, this Saturday 7th June sees Oxford Pride’s ‘The Greatest Show‘! Beginning at 9am, the march through the city begins at Paradise Square prior to the festival, taking place at South Park on the same day.
Safe spaces, tasty food vendors and the community markets all return, alongside an incredible main stage line-up for 2025!
The iconic Danny Beard returns for a third year, alongside local legend Ace! It’s sure to be an incredible day, yet the fun doesn’t stop there, as Baga Chipz host the official afterparty.
Their Pride Guide is bursting with information, as well as honouring and paying a touching tribute to their incredibly missed Founding Chair, Mark ‘Minnie’ Whittaker.
Tickets are available for the small contribution of £3.21, and with Oxford Pride being a charity-run event, the sales from each ticket assists with hosting such wonderful events and parades, offering LGBTQ+ people safe spaces to connect and engage with others within the community, alongside allies. For tickets and more information, just click HERE!
Rugby Pride returns on Saturday 21st June, with a Pride march taking place through the town centre, meeting at 11.30am. A community picnic in Caldecott Park follows where everyone, including pets, are more than welcome. It’s sure to be a good day, so be sure to add the date to your diary and check Warwickshire Pride’s Instagram and site for more information!
Among the celebrations, the fight for equality and freedom continues, as standing strong with our friends and loved ones within the LGBTQIA+ community is more important than ever. Using our voices to call out hate and speaking against injustice is imperative, as this year has seen even more unjust vitriol being thrown at our trans friends.
Alongside numerous other regular events, amazing charities and organisations such as Warwickshire Pride run a variety of services and provide wonderful support to so many people. Whether you’re in need of advice or just someone to talk to, there are many other resources and charities that will offer that safe space you may be looking for. Please remember: you are seen, you are loved and you are not alone.
For what’s happening in your area and around the world, Pride Events and IGLTA have extensive lists of what’s on, so be sure to check those out. Individual event pages also have some in-depth guides on what’s happening throughout the day or weekend, and others with fab tips on what to take with you and how to stay safe when travelling to, from and during events.
We’ll be back next month to take a look at what’s coming up for July; in the meantime, have fun! ✨