Pride in Hull 2019 attracts bigger, bolder, prouder crowd than ever!
Tens of thousands of people joined the Pride in Hull celebrations on Saturday making 2019 another record-breaking year and confirming Pride in Hull as one of the UK’s biggest Pride celebrations.
The parade, which started at Hull College before snaking around Hull City Centre in a column that stretched more than a kilometre, included 3,500 registered paraders from more than 60 organisations – all celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that started the global Pride movement.
Different segments of the parade, which was produced by Back to Ours, celebrated each of the last five decades, with marchers exploring and embracing the themes of Pride as a party, parade and protest.
After that, the crowds at Queen’s Gardens were treated to pop acts including the Honeyz, Claire Richards of Steps, and RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Alaska 5000.
Matt Walton, the chair of Pride in Hull, said: “Wow. We said we wanted to make Pride in Hull bigger, bolder and prouder than ever in 2019 and we have. We’re absolutely blown away by the number of people who came to Pride in Hull this year!
“It was an amazing day – the weather turned out glorious, the acts were superb, and it was wonderful to see the city and Queens Gardens covered in all the different colours that make up the LGBT+ community.
“It’s a truly fantastic and humbling feeling to know that so many people from across the city, region, and even further afield, have stood up as proud to be part of – and shown their support for – a community that does still face battles and incidents on a daily basis.
“We want to thank everyone who helped make this day happen, from Humberside Police and Hull City Council, to the Pride team – who have pretty much devoted their lives to making this happen, and all our wonderful volunteers who gave up their time.
“We also couldn’t do this without the support of Back to Ours, University of Hull, BP, Hull City Council, NHS Hull, James Legal, Humberside Police, Wykeland, Hull Trains, KWL, and National Lottery Community Fund, our partners, Nova and Viking FM – and everyone who has put their hand in their pocket to donate money.
“Thank you so much for being a part of Pride in Hull, for helping to provide this hugely important platform for our community, and for just being fabulous!
“The plans for Pride in Hull 2020 are already in the back of our minds – first, we’re going to get some sleep!”
It costs £140,000 to put on Pride in Hull and we rely on the support of the audience to fund it each year. If everyone who made it to Queens Gardens was able to donate £3 – the event will be able to return even bigger and bolder next year. Text HULL3 to 70085 to donate £3 – or change the 3 to any number up to 20 to donate that amount, or visit prideinhull.co.uk/donate.
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