First festival is in memory of Martyn
STOCKPORT’S first ever Pride festival was celebrated at the weekend with a special tribute to Martyn Hett.
The 29-year-old, who was killed during the Manchester Arena bombing, was remembered with a special stage in his honour. Thousands turned out for the huge LGBT gathering.
STOCKPORT’S first ever Pride festival was celebrated with a special tribute to Martyn Hett.
The 29-year-old, who was killed during the Manchester Arena bombing, was remembered with a special stage in his honour.
The main stage on Castle Yard was named the Martyn Hett stage.
Martyn, from Heaton Moor, was one of the 22 people killed on May 22.
A Foodie Friday event also honoured Martyn with a #BeMoreMartyn theme - the hashtag which went viral after his death, encouraging people to live their lives to the full.
Thousands turned out for the huge LGBT gathering on Sunday, which was celebrated with food and drink, music and entertainment at Market Place and Market Hall.
Martyn’s step-dad Stuart Murray took to the stage to open the event and spoke of the family’s continued efforts to promote LGBT acceptance and understanding in memory of Martyn, who was gay.
He said: “I spoke about how, as a parent, you can normalise the process of coming out and make it easier.
“When I reflect on good memories of Martyn one is when he came out and we gave him a hug and it was a really positive thing. I hope that made him comfortable with the person he was.
“I think he would be over the moon about having a stage named after him. And it’s fitting because his whole life was like a performance.
“There was also a cocktail called the #bemoremartyn martini with £1 from each one sold donated to the Beacon Counselling in Stockport.”
Chris Oatway, of People Like Us Stockport (PLUS), which organised the festival, said the event was attended by around 2,000 people and was a great success.
“We had a brilliant turn out, it was just an incredible day,” he said. “We hired the area out in March and it just got bigger and bigger.
“Martyn was from Stockport and was part of the LGBT community. I knew Martyn professionally but he was also an icon.
“When he passed away it just made sense to dedicate something to him in his home town.
“His family were there throughout the day and his step-dad Stuart did a speech to open the event.”
Chris said local events such as Stockport and Wythenshawe Pride are a great way of reaching out to the LGBT community across the whole of Greater Manchester.
Former X Factor contestant Lloyd Daniels was amongst the range of acts who performed at the event. He was joined by The Let Loose Ladies, vocalist Ewan Sim and Stockport’s own Silver Band amongst others.
Stalls from organisations including the LGBT Foundation, Lifeline, Stockport Mind and AgeUK Stockport were also at the event to offer information and support.