Jackie Crozier
Festival Director
December 2005
Before working on Pride I was a Community Fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care in Leeds.
Last year Manchester Pride was voted the Best Event at the Manchester Tourism Awards. I am tremendously proud of the award and just shows how important the event is in the Manchester calendar. This year we want Manchester Pride to be the flagship Pride Event in Europe and the one Pride event everyone puts in their diary.
I first came to Manchester Pride Bank Holiday weekend in 1995 and have returned every year since. I am so proud of what Manchester has to offer, not only as a city but as a community and that it enables people to come together to celebrate LGBT life. Manchester is one of only a few Pride events that raises money for LGBT charities/groups and HIV Organisations and we should all be very proud of what we achieve.
Having to speak on stage to 10,000 people on the opening night of the big weekend. Thankfully I didn't forget my speech.
Since I was a child I have always loved watching Parades and the excitement you get from watching all the different floats. My best Pride moment would have to be walking with the Parade as it approaches Princess Street, and seeing the thousands of people as it goes past the Village. There’s such a party atmosphere about the whole thing and you can tell that everyone is having a really good time. The route goes right through the heart of the city, which I’m proud of, because I know that gay or straight, everyone in Manchester is proud of Manchester Pride.