Join the celebration of pride and allyship brought to you by Pride Classical

August 2023

Contributors include: Alison Jiear (This Is Me by Keala Seattle), Dame Joanna Lumley (I Am What I Amby Gloria Gaynor), Danny Beard (It’s A Sin by Pet Shop Boys), Julie Hesmondhalgh (Small Town Boys by Bronski Beat), Keith Doran (The Weekend by Michael Gray), Dolly-Rose Campbell (We Like To Party by Vengaboys), Jason Manford (My Life by Shirley Bassey) and Matt Henry MBE (I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston)

Hear what Dame Joanna has to say

Pride Classical, the trailblazing organisation dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ history and culture through the power of music, is excited to bring you its latest initiative, My Pride Song, a celebration of Pride and allyship.

My Pride Song is calling upon as many LGBTQ+ community members and allies as possible to contribute a video message with the story behind their choice, the importance of the song, and why the music of Pride matters to them.

Contributors will join prominent LGBTQ+ community members and allies including actress, presenter, author, television producer, and activist Dame Joanna Lumley, winner of season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Danny Beard, renowned actress and activist Julie Hesmondhalgh, music teacher known for his work with neurodivergent composers at Pride Classical Keith Doran, Coronation Street actress Dolly-Rose Campbell, comedian Jason Manford, global cabaret queen Alison Jiear, and Olivier award winning actor Matt Henry MBE who have all joined the movement.

 Sharing her Pride Song, LGBTQ+ ally Dame Joanna Lumley said: “My all-time favourite Pride song is I Am What I Am (by Gloria Gaynor), I just think it’s enchanting because it’s what I believe about everybody, we are just people, all of us across the world, and I love people being proud in exactly what they are!”

 Patsy Stone, of Absolutely Fabulous fame, stepped in to say: "Cheers, sweeties! Thanks a lot!"

Danny Beard, winner of season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, shared their Pride Song: "My Pride anthem is It's a Sin by the Pet Shop Boys because I first performed it at Manchester Pride and it went off! I feel like it is a homage to the girls, the gays, and the theys that went before us and allowed people like me to do what I do at my age!"

To be part of My Pride Song, and share your own message, simply submit a portrait video to the official Pride Classical website, or via the via Storiboard app, or even visit Manchester Central Library to record it live and watch all of the other submissions on the interactive screen. The videos will also be showcased across Pride Classical’s social channels and with key media.

My Pride Song was born out of and inspired by Pride Classical, a brand new event that celebrated the music and history of the LGBTQ+ community. Premiering at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, across the opening weekend of Pride Month in June 2023, Pride Classical presented brand new arrangements of beloved songs by iconic artists, performed by a full professional orchestra of LGBTQ+ musicians and allies. 

Produced by multi award-winning Carrot Productions, Pride Classical showcased a dazzling array of talent, including stars of the West End, TV and Pride events worldwide Danny Beard, Alison Jiear and Matt Henry MBE. The orchestral celebration of Pride was an unparalleled spectacle, breathing life into all your favourite pride anthems. 

Rachel Whibley, co-founder of Carrot Productions comments: “When we curated Pride Classical’s song selection, we really wanted it to embody significant moments from LGBTQ+ history. Obviously not every cherished song could be featured at this fabulous event, so that’s where My Pride Song comes in! It invites you to showcase the songs and stories that matter most to you.” 

Follow @prideclassical for more updates on My Pride Song

Published: 22-Aug-2023: (7224)