Opening Ceremony - Fri 15

Manchester Pride 2008 burst across the city on Friday 15 August with an amazing balloon release led by eighteen 18 year olds - marking the eighteenth year of LGBT Pride celebrations in Manchester and reflecting on the progress that has been made on LGBT rights since they were born.

Manchester City Council honoured Manchester Pride with an official civic ceremony, acknowledging how important Manchester Pride, the Gay Village and LGBT issues are to the Council.

A few sherries later Drew Stokes, Chair of Manchester Pride, led the official ribbon cutting ceremony to rapturous applause and a performance by Kelly Wilde at Cruz 101.

The images contained within this gallery are © Manchester Pride and must not be reproduced, online or in any other form, without prior explicit permission.