In the running County aims to host Europe-wide Pride event in 2027
GLOUCESTERSHIRE could be hosting a major Pride event to unite the LGBTQ+ community in three years’ time, as the county is in the bidding process to host Europride2027.
Announcing that the county is in the running, Pride in Gloucestershire confirmed the European Pride Organisers Association has listed Gloucestershire as a potential host.
Rivals include Torremolinos in Spain, Turin in Italy and Vilnius in Lithuania.
Europride is licensed to a different host city each year and for 2024 the host location is Thessaloniki in Greece and 2025 will be Lisbon in Portugal.
Previous locations include Copenhagen, Malta, Vienna and Belgrade and the last Europride to take place in the UK was London in 2012.
The event can last up to two weeks and it involves a festival, a march, a Human Rights Conference and an array of LGBTQ+ arts and cultural activities and can attract hundreds of thousands of people globally. So could it be heading to Gloucestershire?
Each organisation has five months to complete their bids and be ready for publication on September 8, 2024, and Pride in Gloucestershire say they are confident they can present a “competitive and meaningful case to bring this prestigious global event to Gloucestershire and back to the UK.”
Pride in Gloucestershire spokesperson Richard Stevens said: “2027 will mark 15 years since Europride was last held in the UK.
“The UK, once known for its strong LGBTI+ credentials, has seen a continuous decline in not only its international standing but also community confidence and fear from a rise in hate crime and the creeping influence of extremists.
“With Gloucestershire’s reputation for hosting world-class events coupled with our reputation for being inclusive and community-focused across a whole region, we feel that we will be able to deliver a Europride with the impact that empowers the LGBTI+ community not just in the UK but across the whole of Europe.”
Lenny Emson, president of the European Pride Organisers Association which licenses Europride, said: “With the increase in right-wing and far-right governments and politicians across Europe, Pride events are becoming ever more important as an opportunity for the LGBTI+ community to come together and show their strength in numbers and togetherness.
“Europride continues to grow in importance and as a stand against the weaponisation of LGBTI+ rights in politics wherever it takes place.”
Europride say the event has the ability to “enact change and directly improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people.”
The Gloucestershire team also add that even though they expect this to generate at least £30m directly for the local economy, using this opportunity “to create a true legacy for LGBTQ+ people” is their primary focus.
While their plans must be kept under wraps until September, the Pride in Gloucestershire team welcomes any interest from people, organisations or businesses interested in getting involved in either supporting their bid or playing their part should their bid be successful.
The result of the bidding is expected to be announced on Saturday, November 2.