High profile LGBT figures will be attending this year’s Totnes Pride to show their support for LGBT people in Devon.
Devon-based social enterprise Proud2Be Project have announced that they will be staging Totnes Pride on Saturday, September 6.
Three high profile LGBT figures are set to attend this year’s event, which will bring Devon’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community (LGBT) together with their friends, families and supporters, for a full day and night of celebration in the town.
Proud2Be Patron, and human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell said about last year’s event: “I was very proud to be a part of Totnes Pride 2013. It was a great success, with a wonderful community atmosphere and double the numbers expected…Bring on Totnes Pride 2014!”
Christine Burns, MBE is a retired political activist best known for her work with trans charity Press for Change. Christine was awarded an MBE in 2005 in recognition of her work representing transgender people.
She said: “This is a really important milestone year for LGBT people. It is a watershed because we now celebrate our diversity in a country where same sex marriage is a reality. It also marks ten years since the passage of the Gender Recognition Act. Trans people got a bad deal out of equal marriage. The degree of homophobia and transphobia we all face is even more visible than before. These truths underline that full equality and safety isn’t here yet. That’s why public displays of our pride and solidarity continue to be important. It’s why I’m pleased to be a part of Totnes Pride.”
Suran Dickson is the Founder and Chief Executive of Diversity Role Models, a charity which tackles homophobic bullying in schools by doing workshops with positive role models.
Suran said: “Diversity Role Models has seen a fantastic response to its anti-bullying workshops in Devon so I am delighted to be part of Totnes Pride in 2014. While we have seen significant legislative changes recently, bullying related to sexuality and gender is still a huge concern. Pride events are a great opportunity to come together, celebrate and think about what needs to be done next.”
Proud2Be will be organising a variety of events on Saturday, September 6. The day starts at 9.00am at Vire Island, with opening speeches from Peter Tatchell and Christine Burns, who together with award winning Samba ROC Band will then lead a procession up Fore Street and High Street to Totnes Civic Hall.
At the Civic Hall visitors can enjoy community art projects, inspiring talks and workshops, a variety of community information stands, Dot’s Diner, a craft area, face painting, Loz’s clay room, and an LGBT cinema and library.
There will be a Question Time-style panel discussion where Peter, Christine and Suran will be joined by Jess MacIntyre, founder of ReachOut, a support network for LGBT refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and Alan Salt who from September, will be the new Principal at King Edward VI Community College in Totnes.
The fun continues into the evening at Totnes Pride After Party at The Barrel House from 7pm, which will feature live music from The Hummingbirds, Yourgardenday, popular Disco Funk band Golddust, visual projections from Sildy and a DJ set from Madame Souza.
Entry to the daytime events at Totnes Civic Hall is just £2 for adults, £1 for 11-18 year olds, and is free to those under 11.
To book tickets to the Totnes Pride After Party costing £10.00, CLICK HERE:
Proud to Be began three years ago when gay identical twin brothers, Mat and Jon Price sat in front of their web cam and recorded a short video. In the video they explained how they are both “proud to be gay”.
Since then a number of high profile LGBT figures have contributed to the international campaign including Stephen Fry who said: “I am happy to be counted as a supporter of Proud2Be at every turn”.
As well as running the campaign, Proud2Be holds a number of social events in South Devon, has their own community radio show, facilitates workshops and provides consultancy to a number of organisations across the UK.
Next year, Proud2Be will launch a Devon-wide Youth Service and open the first rural LGBT community hub in South Devon.
Jon Price, said: “We are so excited about this year’s Pride.”
“Along with our committee and volunteers, we have been working hard to ensure that Totnes Pride is a community event we can all be proud of.”
Mat Price added: “We are thrilled with the support we have received from the local community.”
“For us Totnes Pride is not only a chance to celebrate diversity in our town but to also acknowledge how far we have come as a community in our fight for equality and how much there is still left to achieve.”
Proud2Be need volunteers on the big day.
If you would like to get involved EMAIL:
To find out more about Totnes Pride, CLICK HERE:
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