Great Pride in city
I just want everyone to open their arms and accept people for who they are
LAST year Leicester Pride was cancelled due to coronavirus – but this year festival-goers cancelled their holidays to be part of its return.
After fears the parade and festival might not be back for 2021, organisers announced it would return just a few weeks ahead of the big day.
Despite the short notice, people turned up in their thousands to celebrate.
An estimated 2,500 people took part in the famous parade, starting outside Curve theatre and winding its way through the city centre.
The high street was transformed a sea of colour as people of all ages and backgrounds held their rainbow flags high and waved them through the city.
They were later joined by thousands more as the parade became a party on the festival grounds at Victoria Park.
Among the festival-goers was Alison Wright, 42, attending with her daughter, Jay.
“I’m here today at my first Pride event supporting my daughter,” she said.
The mother-daughter duo enjoyed a drink in the sun as the entertainment on the main stage began.
It was the second Pride event for
Jay, 18, who said:
“What’s amazing for me is that it really does show that my mum’s not only supporting me but everyone here.”
Organisers say the event is one of the biggest, free Pride events in the country.
Leicester Pride chairman Martyn Parker said: “We weren’t sure how it was going to go today or if people were feeling comfortable enough to come out after Covid but we’ve had a fantastic turnout.
“It’s nice to be able to bring it back. In Leicester, we always make sure it’s Pride for everyone, includinto ing families.” The Wootton family from Nottingham were one of the many families in the crowd. Chris and Jason walked the whole parade with their son Kye.
Chris, 33, who is originally from Leicester, said: “We’ve been to a few Pride events but we always enjoy Leicester.”
Waqar Hamad travelled all the way from Doncaster to be part of the festivities.
The 30-year-old did not want to miss Leicester’s big day.
“I love coming. I have always felt so comfortable at Pride – we can all come together and feel part of something,” he said. Waqar said he knew he was “different” from a young age but grew up with a lot of family expectations around him.
It was after his first Pride event in 2019 that he felt “comfortable” and, soon after, told his family he is gay.
“Sadly, they were not accepting,” he said. “I just want everyone, especially South Asian families, to open their arms and accept people for who they are.”
For many, the event was the first big gathering they had attended post-lockdown.
Alex Hanneman, 24, from Loughborough, said it was “strange but nice seeing so many people”.
Waqar Hamad
It was 27-year-old Alexia Mahbouli’s first Pride.
“It is so good to be here – this means a lot to me, I feel comfortable,” Alexia said.
Local organisations set up stalls at the festival, including Trade Sexual Health, which was holding a sexual health clinic, Leicestershire Police and the fire service also attended, as well as Leicestershire’s LGBTQ+ football club, Leicester Wildecats.
Alex Fies-Bryce from the club said he was marking his first Leicester Pride after moving to the city two years ago.
He said: “It was really nice to see so many young people with rainbow flags in the parade – I didn’t go to Pride until I was 20 years old so it’s nice to see young people getting involved.”
With a line-up of non-stop entertainment, including a dedicated DJ tent, festival-goers were not short of fun.
The event continued into the afternoon, with the sun shining and music blaring – a fitting way to mark the first Leicester Pride since 2019.