Taking a real Pride in Perth

Planning underway for second event

The build up to the first ever Perthshire Pride has had such a positive response that plans for a bigger event next year are already underway.

Pride organisers set up open meetups last month for those who wanted to find out more information or take part - with a huge boost in volunteers signing up as a result.

Anna Davies, who is events manager, secretary and volunteer coordinator for the Pride event, attended all the meet ups and thinks the volume of willing volunteers has paved the way for a potentially “massive” Pride next year.

Speaking ahead of the event this Saturday, she said: “Our first one on July 4 had about eight people which was really good because we weren’t expecting or trying not to expect that many.

“But at the Blend lounge cafe we had about 15 people with some more just turning up to hear what was going on. It was a really good response.

“It’s a smaller event this year because we couldn’t afford a larger event unfortunately.

“But we want to start the community this year to build up for next year because we really want a massive event next year and we have plans for that already.

“The volunteers are starting from the ground up and hopefully they are going to be next year’s volunteers and some of them can be in-charge of other new volunteers.

“But there will be charity buckets to raise money for next year and we’ve got surveys for fundraising as well as a few social media things we have organised too.

“The volunteers that we have now are really promoting a positive LGBT community because it is just so silent in Perth.”

The LGBT community event will be staged on Horsecross Plaza in Perth from 1pm until 6pm, followed by an after party, on Saturday, August 11.

The event will start outside Perth Concert Hall with Reverend Scott Burton from St Matthew’s Church addressing the crowd.

And despite doubts that the inaugural event would draw big crowds, Anna said they haven’t turned away any volunteers but have had to turn down people manning the stalls for the event because there are limited spaces.

“It feels a bit like spinning plates at the moment but it’s suppose to I think.

“Our original worry is that we weren’t going to get anybody to come, like public figures, but now it feels like we are getting this massive support on social media and people e-mailing us just showing support.

“I doesn’t feel like we have to worry about the numbers anymore, we can just see how the event goes and take it from there.

“I think the day is going to run really smoothly - I am very confident of that.

“Not many people know we had this community in Perth and we just wanted to give a voice to that community.

“We’re just really grateful all the volunteers have come to us and are all really happy to help in any way they can.

“But so many charities and businesses are wanting to support us which is really brilliant.”

For information or to volunteer contact volunteer@perthshirepride. com.