Gender signals help light the road for Pride festival
LGBT traffic lights have been installed across Rochdale, as part of the borough’s first Pride festival.
Also happening this weekend for the Rochdale in Rainbows event is a ‘Priderun’, a youth party and a historical procession.
Industrial giant Siemens paid for the four lights, which show gender, LGBT and heterosexual symbols, to be installed, backed by Transport for Greater Manchester.
There are two in Middleton, one in Heywood and one in Rochdale town centre at the junction of St Marys Gate/ Newgate/ College Road.
Mark Widdup, director of neighbourhoods at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Siemens kindly offered to install the light filters at their own expensive in support of Rochdale in Rainbows presents Pride. There are a number of events and activities taking place during our borough’s first Pride to increase LGBT+ visibility, and the lights are just one example of this.”
The festival’s celebration event takes place on Friday,
November 22 at Riverside Restaurant - where you can enjoy some entertainment by LGBT+ entertainers, food and drinks.
The event will run from 5-7pm and the free tickets can be obtained on Eventbrite.
Also on Friday is a Springvale Youth Service party for 11-19-year-olds which will involve refreshments, music and games from 6.30pm.
Pride will be taking over the weekly parkrun event at Watergrove Reservoir, which starts at 9am.
Runners are encouraged to wear their brightest running or walking gear but can always pick up some glitter and rainbow laces on site.
Also on Saturday at midday will be a performance from Women in Touch who will hold a procession from the Yorkshire Street entrance of the Wheatsheaf through the shopping centre.
Finally, artists boygirl and All Hands on Deck will come to Touchstones Rochdale for one night only for a special evening of DJing, where they will also host an hour of open decks for others to have a go.