Pride Big Weekend to go online

PRIDE CYMRU has announced this year’s Big Weekend will go ahead in August in a series of online events.

The Big Weekend, organised by Welsh LGBT+ charity Pride Cymru, was due to take place on the August bank holiday weekend.

However due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the event – which usually attracts more than 50,000 people each year – will be running a programme of online events starting on Monday, August 24.

Gian Molinu, chair of Pride Cymru, said: “Since the coronavirus pandemic began, we’ve held out hope that circumstances would improve and that we would be able to celebrate Pride Cymru’s Big Weekend physically.

“However, the health and safety of our community, volunteers, performers, suppliers and contractors are our priority and it is clear that it remains unsafe to have a large-scale event.”

The charity, which celebrates diversity and strives for an inclusive society, will deliver the Pride Cymru Big Week from August 24-30.

It will stream a range of panel discussions on topics ranging from representation within our communities and in sports to LGBT+ history in Wales.

Plans are also coming together for some Q&A sessions as well as a live broadcast of performers and Pride Cymru favourites.

Gian Molinu continued: “While the pandemic prevents us from physically coming together as one community to march through the city, it will not stop us from celebrating the LGBT+ community.

“For many, Pride is the only place they feel able to be themselves, and so this year will be no different as we continue the ongoing protest and demand for equality and tolerance in our daily lives across Wales.

“Together with our volunteers and partners, our virtual Pride Cymru Big Week will be a week in which our communities will have an opportunity to stay connected, to raise awareness and to share their messages across available platforms.

“Most importantly, it will be a week in which we will stand together as one, as we share the love and support that you can only experience at a Pride event.” Pride Cymru 2019 in Cardiff: Last year, the charity celebrated 20 years of Pride Cymru, welcoming acts like Gok Wan, Atomic Kitten and local performers Miss Kitty and

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Pride Cymru will share more information about the week-long August event closer to date.