Latest news with #ManchesterPride
ITV News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Birmingham Pride 2025: Who is performing and where is it taking place in the city?
Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on Birmingham for the city's 2025 Pride, celebrating LGBTQ+ communities. The two-day festival takes place on Saturday 24th May and Sunday 25th May. Organisers say the event, which is in its 28th year, could attract around 40,000 people over the weekend. In previous years, more than 25,000 people have attended across both days, with 8000 participants in the parade and an estimated 75,000 people watching throughout the city. This year, political parties are banned from participating, due to controversy over the Supreme Court's ruling that excludes trans women from the legal definition of a 'woman'. When and where is the parade? The whole event begins with the parade, which kicks off at noon on Saturday, 24 May, from Centenary Square. Participants are encouraged to arrive at the starting point at 11am. The parade will make its way through the city centre and end in Birmingham's Gay Village, where the main festival activities will be held. The theme this year is 'Love has no limits', and anyone can watch the parade for free. Applications to enter the parade have now closed. What happens after the parade? A street party will take place over Saturday and Sunday in the Gay Village: Hurst Street, Bromsgrove Street, Kent Street and Lower Essex Street. There will be community market stalls and food vendors around the city's LGBTQ+ bars and clubs. At the Smithfield festival site in Digbeth there will be performances on the main stage, dance arena, cabaret stage and community stage. Is it free? The parade is free but the street party in the Gay Village and performances at Smithfield will be ticketed. Children who are 11 and under go free, but will still need to book a ticket for these areas. There is a free community event at Smithfield on Friday (23 May), which will involve speakers, live music and food stalls. Although the event is free, tickets still need to be booked online. Since the first charged-for event in 2015, the Birmingham festival has been awarding grants to LGBTQ+ communities and support organisations, as well as other culture groups and charities. Who is in the line-up for the main stage? Those confirmed to perform on the main stage this year include: Clean Bandit Cascada Bananarama Vengaboys Alexandra Burke Claire Richards The Wanted Una Healy Clementine Douglas Moonchild Sanelly Kitty Scott-Claus Catty Tom Rasmussen Tribute acts will be performing on other stages. Why are political parties banned this year? Organisers have banned political parties from participating in Birmingham Pride in 2025, due to controversy over the Supreme Court's ruling that the legal definition of a 'woman' is based on biological sex, excluding trans women. It joined hands with Brighton, London and Manchester Pride organisers in calling for all political parties to protect trans people. In a statement, Birmingham Pride said: "What is happening here in the UK is not isolated. It is part of a disturbing global trend - from banning of Pride events in Hungary to anti-trans legislation in the United States - where LGBTQ+ rights are being systematically rolled back." It added: "Know that this is not a symbolic gesture. It is a direct call for accountability and a refusal to platform those who have not protected our rights. We demand real commitments and measurable progress." The Prime Minister has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling, saying it brings "clarity" but said his government will "ensure trans people are treated with respect".
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four of U.K.'s largest Pride marches suspend political party participation
The organizers of four of the United Kingdom's largest LGBTQ Pride marches have banded together to suspend political party participation in their annual events in support of the country's transgender community. 'At a time when trans rights in the UK are under growing attack, our resolve has never been stronger: we will not allow progress to be undone,' the statement issued Monday by Birmingham Pride, Brighton Pride, Manchester Pride and Pride in London said. 'We will not stand by as the dignity, safety, and humanity of our trans siblings are debated, delayed, or denied.' Political parties are often represented at Pride marches in the U.K. For example, the current prime minister, Keir Starmer, attended London Pride in 2022 when he was leader of the Labour Party. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a member of the Conservative Party, also attended Pride marches in a political capacity in 2010 and 2011. The joint decision to prohibit political party participation at these major Pride events follows a ruling last month by the U.K. Supreme Court to exclude transgender women from the legal definition of 'woman' in the Equality Act, a 2010 law that legally prohibits discrimination based on certain protected characteristics. The ruling stemmed from a legal dispute that began in 2018 when the Scottish Parliament passed a law seeking to increase the number of women on public sector boards. The law, to the dismay of some women's rights activists, included transgender women in its definition of women. Last month's court ruling, according to the four Pride groups, 'underscores the urgent need for immediate action.' 'In this moment, we choose to stand firmer, louder, and prouder in demanding change that protects and uplifts trans lives,' the statement said. In a statement shared on X, the LGBT+ Lib Dems, an arm of the Liberal Democrats party, said they are 'sickened to our core' by the blanket suspension on political parties. The group said the Liberal Democrats 'have been at the forefront of campaigning for LGBT+ rights' and have earned the right to be present at Pride marches. 'We look forward to a constructive dialogue with Pride organisers so we can come back bigger and better, while those parties who pander to bigotry and hatred can be left in the past, where they belong,' the statement continued. In an email to NBC News, Albie Amankona, a spokesperson for LGBT+ Conservatives, called the decision "disappointing." "While we regret this decision, our members look forward to attending in a personal capacity with pride in who we are and what we stand for," he said. The four Pride groups, in their joint statement, added that the rollback of trans rights in the U.K. is part of a 'disturbing global trend,' citing the banning of Pride events in Hungary and the proliferation of anti-trans legislation in the United States. So far this year, 575 anti-LGBTQ state bills have been proposed across the U.S., many of them targeting transgender rights, according to a tally by the American Civil Liberties Union. And on the federal level, the Trump administration has made trans issues a priority. In his first weeks in office, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting trans rights, including one stating the U.S. government would recognize only two unchangeable sexes and another barring trans people from military service. This article was originally published on
NBC News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Four of U.K.'s largest Pride marches suspend political party participation
The organizers of four of the United Kingdom's largest LGBTQ Pride marches have banded together to suspend political party participation in their annual events in support of the country's transgender community. 'At a time when trans rights in the UK are under growing attack, our resolve has never been stronger: we will not allow progress to be undone,' the statement issued Monday by Birmingham Pride, Brighton Pride, Manchester Pride and Pride in London said. 'We will not stand by as the dignity, safety, and humanity of our trans siblings are debated, delayed, or denied.' Political parties are often represented at Pride marches in the U.K. For example, the current prime minister, Keir Starmer, attended London Pride in 2022 when he was leader of the Labour Party. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a member of the Conservative Party, also attended Pride marches in a political capacity in 2010 and 2011. The joint decision to prohibit political party participation at these major Pride events follows a ruling last month by the U.K. Supreme Court to exclude transgender women from the legal definition of 'woman' in the Equality Act, a 2010 law that legally prohibits discrimination based on certain protected characteristics. The ruling stemmed from a legal dispute that began in 2018 when the Scottish Parliament passed a law seeking to increase the number of women on public sector boards. The law, to the dismay of some women's rights activists, included transgender women in its definition of women. Last month's court ruling, according to the four Pride groups, 'underscores the urgent need for immediate action.' 'In this moment, we choose to stand firmer, louder, and prouder in demanding change that protects and uplifts trans lives,' the statement said. In a statement shared on X, the LGBT+ Lib Dems, an arm of the Liberal Democrats party, said they are 'sickened to our core' by the blanket suspension on political parties. The group said the Liberal Democrats 'have been at the forefront of campaigning for LGBT+ rights' and have earned the right to be present at Pride marches. 'We look forward to a constructive dialogue with Pride organisers so we can come back bigger and better, while those parties who pander to bigotry and hatred can be left in the past, where they belong,' the statement continued. The Pride organizers added that the rollback of trans rights in the U.K. is part of a 'disturbing global trend,' citing the banning of Pride events in Hungary and the proliferation of anti-trans legislation in the United States. So far this year, 575 anti-LGBTQ state bills have been proposed across the U.S., many of them targeting transgender rights, according to a tally by the American Civil Liberties Union. And on the federal level, the Trump administration has made trans issues a priority. In his first weeks in office, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting trans rights, including one stating the U.S. government would recognize only two unchangeable sexes and another barring trans people from military service.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Olly Alexander and Leigh-Anne to perform at Manchester Pride
Brit Award winner Olly Alexander and former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne will be among a host of musicians performing at the Manchester Pride festival this will be joined by Broadway star Billy Porter and the bands Sister Sledge and B*Witched for the event, which will run from 22-25 festival is also introducing its first Mardi Gras shows at Mayfield Depot alongside the Gay Village executive Mark Fletcher said: "Each year we're challenged to respond to the diverse needs of our communities." He continued: "With the introduction of the new Mardi Gras event we needed to make sure that we stayed true to what Pride is about in this city."Our communities were clear that they wanted to see LGBTQ+ performers front and centre and we're thrilled to announce a line-up which serves."Tickets for Mardi Gras and Gay Village Party will be available for presale from 17 March, with more performers set to be announced over the coming months. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
