About Us

Who are we

Manchester Pride is Manchester’s annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) festival, held over the August bank holiday weekend.

But there's much more to Manchester Pride than the Big Weekend and, since 2003, the festival has spanned a full ten days with a series of art, culture, heritage, debate, sport, music and film events celebrating the great diversity of the LGBT community.

Last year, we successfully hosted a number of community events to promote and share the diverse, hard working local groups that we have in Manchester and increase the public awareness of LGBT communities. This year we are increasing these events with a whole host of comedy, literature, art, sport and debate from across Manchester and we are always keen to host new events and ideas that you may have for future festivals so get in touch and be part of the excitement.

The highlight of the Big Weekend in 2009 was the Parade which takes place again this year on the 28th August.

Manchester Pride has traditionally been a fundraiser for the LGBT and HIV communities and is the only Pride event in the UK that has consistently done so. In the past the festival has been called many names including Gayfest, Mardi Gras and in 2003, the city had the honour of hosting EuroPride. Between 2003 and 2006 Manchester Pride Ltd worked with Operation Fundraiser (the Lesbian and Gay Foundation and George House Trust joint fundraising body) to deliver the Manchester Pride festival. This raised over £450,000 before it ‘hung up its boots’ in 2007. The money was distributed to over 100 LGBT and HIV groups and charities in the Greater Manchester area.

In 2007 Manchester Pride realised its long-term vision of becoming a charity in its own right, successfully raising £95,000 for local charities that year alone. Last year, in 2009, despite rising costs, the success of Manchester Pride steadily increased and the August Bank Holiday festival raised the largest amount ever, £135,000. This was distributed to groups such as the Marlin Swimming Group, Rainbow Families, and Keshet Manchester, as well as the free condom and lube scheme in the village and HIV organisations such as Body Positive North West.

Manchester Pride Limited will continue to raise funds for LGBT and HIV charities and groups as a lasting legacy to the strong foundations built up by Operation Fundraiser. We open applications for our Community Grant every year after the festival, so keep your eyes peeled around this time if you have a group you think is in need of this grant.

For more information about Manchester Pride, why not watch our short film to explain the people involved and the work that goes into planning Manchester pride each year.

Presented by Anthony Crank and Toby Whitehouse

A Big Thank You to
Antony Cotton
Dawn & the Prairie Dogs
Iain & Michael at Taurus

Filmed and Edited by
Ian Brown
Beth Durkin
Jonathan Robinson

Manchester Pride would like to thank all our volunteers, without whom we would not be able to successfully run this festival, as well as George House Trust and the Lesbian & Gay Foundation for all their hard work and enthusiasm.

Thank you for all your contributions and messages of support and here's to another fantastic year!

Visit Manchester