From the huge anti-section 28 protest held on the streets of Manchester in the 1980s to the colourful spectacle seen today, the Manchester Pride Parade is one of the largest LGBTQ+ demonstrations to take place in the world as the City continues to lead the way in the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation.
We're looking for creative and expressive volunteers to represent Manchester Pride and be part of our Parade Troupe. Volunteers will attend workshops to learn costume and prop making, dance, and more before then joining us on Saturday 26th August as we march through the city of Manchester as part of the Parade.
Get ready to make history and join the most vibrant and impactful parade in the city! The Manchester Pride Parade, part of the renowned Manchester Pride Festival, will take place on Saturday, 26th August, and this year's theme is "Queerly Beloved." It's a celebration of love, community, self-expression, and the transformative power of dance.
The Manchester Pride Parade is not just a march; it's a celebration of the power of love in all its forms. Love extends far beyond romantic relationships. It encompasses the spirit of community, self-expression, liberation, and the celebration of diverse identities and relationships. Love is a force that transcends legal and societal barriers. Now more than ever, it’s essential to recognise and honour the resilience, creativity, and love that queer individuals and communities have demonstrated throughout history.
Our communities' unwavering commitment to celebrating and affirming their relationships has paved the way for significant progress, including the achievement of marriage equality and the wider acceptance of LGBTQ+ relationships. By choosing love over hate, especially for those who are more marginalised within our communities, we send a powerful message against the negativity that persists in politics, the media, and harmful legislation.
The power of love was demonstrated when the Marriage Equality Act was passed a decade ago. The theme "Queerly Beloved" aims to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of marriage equality in England and Wales. On 17th July 2013 (2014 in Scotland, and 2020 in Northern Ireland), the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act became law, granting civil partners the opportunity to convert their partnerships into marriages and enabling individuals to change their legal gender without ending their marriages.
While we celebrate these monumental victories, it's important to question how far we have truly come. Globally, only 32 countries have legal recognition of same-sex marriage, and recent statistics reveal a significant rise in hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals in Greater Manchester alone. The Manchester Pride Parade becomes a platform to not only celebrate our achievements but also to raise awareness, challenge discrimination, and advocate for a world where love knows no boundaries.
Our parade theme, "Queerly Beloved," delves into the transformative power of the dance floor, highlighting its pivotal role in fostering self-acceptance and igniting a sense of empowerment and liberation. This year, we're bringing the dance floor to the streets! Get ready to let loose, express yourself, and dance like nobody's watching.
The dance floor is a space where queer individuals can shed societal expectations and norms, stepping into their power and reclaiming their bodies and identities. The ballroom scene served as a safe haven for the community, particularly for those who faced additional discrimination and marginalisation, such as queer, trans, and intersectional people of colour (QTIPOC) and the wider trans communities. Amidst the ongoing fight against racism and for trans rights, it provided a platform for individuals to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
The ballroom scene continues to be a powerful force, centering trans and QTIPOC voices and experiences, challenging norms, and redefining notions of beauty, artistry, and self-expression. The dance floor has always been a sacred space for the LGBTQ+ community, and now, it's time to embrace it on the Parade route!
The Manchester Pride parade entry along with our brilliant Parade Troupe, will honour the rich history of ballroom culture and recognize its profound impact on our community. As we celebrate "Queerly Beloved," we pay tribute to the dance floor as a transformative space where love, self-expression, and acceptance intertwine. Join us on the streets as we move to the beats of liberation and unity, embracing our authentic selves, and continuing the legacy of queer dance floor culture.
Applications are now open! Don't miss this opportunity to be part of something extraordinary. Together, we'll make history, celebrate queer love, and continue the fight for a world where LGBTQ+ people are free to live and love without prejudice, and our culture is universally celebrated.
Join us on Saturday, 26th August and let's make this year’s Manchester Pride Parade another joyful and unforgettable celebration.
Pride is something everyone feels proud of and can see a little bit of themselves in.
Our communities are at the heart of everything we do, and we'd love to share your Pride experiences with others.
Tag your photos with #ShowYourPride and you could appear here on our site.
2 minute read
