We get by with a little help from our friends
Oban Pride chairman Phill Dexter rounds off our LGBTQ+ History Month series by paying tribute to the many organisations that give their support to the equality first charity.
Oban Pride, like many other Pride and LGBTQ+ organisations, relies on support, funding, sponsorship and resources from people and organisations from throughout the community.
When the founding members of Oban Pride first came together we were introduced to each other by a member of staff from Waverley Care, which was already doing work in the area and had heard about individuals doing other work in the area.
Waverley Care is a Scottish charity which works with people who are living with or affected by HIV and Hepatitis C. Its work is very important as it helps to support people, tackles health inequalities, promotes good sexual health and helps fight stigma faced by people living with and affected by HIV and Hep C.
When we held our inaugural Pride in 2019 we had many organisations present in our area and were very proud to have this as a feature at Oban Pride. We hope to be able to continue this at future Prides.
Some of the organisations which were present had been involved with Oban Pride from the early planning stages, including Pink Saltire, Equality Network, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland and PSYV.
Other organisations have also always been supportive of Oban Pride, including The Oban Times, Argyll and Bute Council, Bid4Oban, Oban Phoenix Cinema, and many others.
Oban Pride wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of other organisations, we are now working with many others, including Oban FM, with our radio show Oban Pride on the Waves, while we also have a new partnership with Martyn’s Monday Club and we will be starting our monthly group Friends of Dorothy in March.
This group is for anyone who is LGBTQ+ living in Oban and surrounding areas who just feels like they need a chat with other friendly LGBTQ+ people during these hard times.
If you would like more information about Friends of Dorothy please email obanpride@gmail.com.
To round off its month of social media posts and live streamed events for LGBTQ+ History Month this February, Oban Pride is delighted to be hosting its Virtual Purple Party on Friday February 26, which is Purple Friday.
An amazing evening has been planned with quiz rounds, give-aways and special guests including members of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence: Glasgow Mission. There will also be a performance by Michael T Ogilvie.
The whole event will be streamed to the Oban Pride Facebook Page and Twitter Feed (@ObanPride) where members of the community can get involved. The event will also be available to watch via www.obanpride.com.
The Virtual Purple Party starts at 7pm and is followed by Oban Pride on the Waves from 10pm on Oban FM, both of which are being hosted by Pride’s very own Crystal, with special co-hosts.
‘We are very much looking forward to having you tune in to this special event and would love to get everyone involved by commenting during the stream or even send us pictures of them wearing something purple that we can share,’ said Crystal.