Isle of Wight Pride beat off stiff competition at the UK Pride Organisers Network conference to win the right to host UK Pride in 2018
After a successful UK Pride Organisers Network conference held in Blackpool this weekend, the Isle of Wight was voted to be the host for UK Pride in 2018.
Only a year ago, Isle of Wight Pride didn’t have a Pride organisation and just a few months later they are now preparing to welcome everyone to their second ever Pride on July 21, 2018.
Joe Finch from Isle of Wight Pride, said: “It is testament to the incredible impact that our first ever Pride had on our Island that we were given this prestigious event in only our second year. We really want to use the opportunity given to us to not only show off our gorgeous Island to the world, but to make a real impact on the lives of Islanders. We also want to use it as a spring-board for the rest of the UK, to show other isolated communities the importance and impact of diverse events such as Pride and the difference it can make, and to encourage them to put on an event of their own!.”
Andy Train, Co-Chair of the UK Pride Organisers Network and the organiser of the first UK Pride at Pride in Hull in July 2017, added: “It was an enormous privilege for Hull, as City of Culture, to host the first UK Pride. Selecting the host for 2018 was a tough choice as we had four excellent bids to choose from. But it’s wonderful to be handing the UK Pride mantle over to the Isle of Wight – the second ever UK Pride at the second ever Isle of Wight Pride. I look forward to seeing their event develop.”
Isle of Wight Pride will take place on Saturday July 21, 2018, with various arts and sporting events organised in the weeks leading up to Pride.
Yve White from Isle of Wight Pride, said: “We are absolutely blown away by being given this huge honour. It’s incredible how far we have come in such a short space of time and we will do everything we can to put on an incredible year of events for UK Pride. It won’t be a day, it won’t be a week, there will be events throughout the year to support and engage everyone. Everyone will be welcome.”
The bid had the backing of veteran LGBT+ activist Peter Tatchell, and the Isle of Wight’s MP, Bob Seeley.
Isle of Wight Pride narrowly beat Pride Cymru to the title, with Liverpool Pride and Exeter Pride running in earlier rounds of voting.
Outgoing Co-Chair of the UK Pride Organisers Network, Steve Taylor, said: “With more Prides in the UK than any other country in Europe, we wanted to establish UK Pride as our national equivalent to EuroPride and WorldPride. That four Prides entered the competition in just its second year shows the power of Pride and whilst the Isle of Wight has won, it was clear that all four Prides could have delivered a fantastic UK Pride in 2018.”
You can keep up to date with Isle of Wight Pride and what will be planned by following them on Facebook or Twitter or to visit their website, click here:
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