Political Pride 2015

Taking Pride Back to its Roots

A collective of individuals and organisations, including the Joyce Layland LGBT Centre, LGBT Youth North West, Manchester Metropolitan University and People’s History Museum have joined forces to programme a weekend of alternative events to take Pride back to its roots.

Political Pride, which will take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August, immediately following the Manchester Pride parade, will include workshops, discussions and performances, alongside a series of family-friendly activities. All events will be cost-free and inclusive, and will take place in several accessible locations on and around the Oxford Road Corridor in Manchester.

The weekend will provide a platform for participants to explore the politics of Pride, and to identify and explore some of the most important issues for the LGBT+ community today. Political Pride will provide an accessible and alternative space to the pub and club scene of Canal Street, in order to open up the Pride celebrations to a more diverse representation of LGBT+ people in the North-West.

Amelia Lee, Strategic Director of LGBT Youth North-West, first came up with the idea of hosting an alternative Pride celebration after realising that the current provisions were not inclusive of all LGBT groups: 'For young people the main Pride festival can feel quite exclusionary. It is big and impersonal, very alcohol orientated, and relies on you having money. Political Pride allows us to put something on that young people can feel included in'.

Sarah Todd, Equality and Diversity Coordinator at Manchester Metropolitan University, said that ‘The event was an excellent opportunity to recognise the tremendous progress made towards LGBT equality and to take stock of the work left to do. MMU is committed to ensuring equality for all staff and students, placing diversity and individuality at the heart of our core values; we are delighted to be involved in the first ever Political Pride and hope to continue this partnership for many years to come.’

Catherine O’Donnell, Engagement and Events Officer at People’s History Museum says, ‘We are delighted to be involved in the organisation of Political Pride.  Our collections chart the radical history of the first Pride marches and Political Pride will continue in this tradition.’

Activities across the weekend include banner- and badge-making, a children’s story-time, and a slogan-based Bake-Off; while discussions and talks will be hosted on topics including bi-activism, marriage equality, the history and future of Pride, and the relationship between faith and sexuality. 

Political Pride takes place at the LGBT Centre, 49-51 Sidney St, M1 7HB, All Saints Park (Oxford Road, opposite Sidney St) and MMU Business School (By All Saints Park) on 29 and 30 August 2015. Fringe events will take place on 27 and 28 August.

Published: 23-Jul-2015: (3185)