Gay Pride.

satinabedMon 04/08/08 10:32

Well, disappointedly, I missed South Yorkshire Pride (Sheffield) on June 7th - I was totally unaware that there was one. Once again, I failed to notice Huddersfield's Castle Hill Pink Picnic and I don't attend London Pride as it's too expensive to go/stay over.

Yet, I did manage to catch two hours of Leeds Pride. It kicked off in Millenium Square, at Noon, there was a parade apparently. I say 'apparently' because my lovely other half had been up for going, the night before, but, at Noon, we were just sitting down to breakfast. Then, at 3pm, he said: "Hmm, I don't think it's worth going now." I wasn't having any, I marched him to the railway station and we got to Pride Leeds at 4pm. A great two hours was had, mainly catching up with old friends. He then said: "We should do this more often."

Well, now's his chance:

Sunday Aug 9th - Wakefield Pride.
Sunday Aug 17th - Doncaster Pride and York Pink Picnic.
Friday Aug 15th to 25th - Manchester Pride.

And maybe you'd like to go too.

Did you enjoy a Pride event, this year? And Why?

#9739Mon 04/08/08 10:34

I went to Birmingham Pride, Nottingham pride and Huddersfield Pink Picnic this year, though got to say not seen a parade this year (All 3 events were paradeless).

My fave was def the Pink Picnic, it;s a good day out

satinabedMon 04/08/08 10:59

I went to Nottingham Pride in 2004. We (I was with someone else then) caught the last hour. Was there a parade that year? If so, we missed it. May be I need to start dating guys who take pride in Pride. lol

As for Manchester Pride, we went in 2004 but, on a technicality, got in for free. Mistaken identity, the security thought we were residents.

It was back in 1994, when I first went to Manchester Pride - at a time when it was Pride that really counted, NO ticket price, everyone jollying along together and before all the gay sub-cultures took a hold. One could brush by anyone and no one took offence if it looked like you might have touched their bum/arm. It threw it down with rain and dancing continued, regardless, into the early hours.

Then, in 1995, the BIG ONE. A Day trip to London, taking part in the parade and the Party in Victoria Park. I remember we dropped £3 or £4 into a collecting bucket, popped on a pink gingham Aids ribbon and we were in, no queuing, no ticket, no blatent advertising.

jumboMon 04/08/08 11:01

Brighton is bestest, even better than London, I think the inclusivity and the openeess and green spaces and the "usuallly nice weather" makes it a good day out Gay or straight

rillingtonWed 06/08/08 17:51

Sadly I wont be attending a Pride event this year as I'm not prepared to be ripped off my the blatent comemrcialism and money-making tone of Manchester Pride. I'm, not prepared to pay neck end of £20 just to get into the Village apart from anything else. None of my friends are going for the same reason and I think there's a bit of a backlash about the blatent comemrcialisation and money-making rip-off it has become this year.

Sadly I didn't get to Leeds Pride and I do miss not being able to go to The Pink Picnic as it's always been an excellent day.

Thinking about it, Pride events areen't really making a statement anymore are they. After all, there's no mention about it being about LGBT. Pride could stand for anything. Gay Pride is about us being visible and showing to thsoe out there that we do exist whereas now it often just ebcoems yet another stereotype of how the world sees us - just take a look at any Pride parde if you want examples of that.