in the news
from August 2008

Faster than a speeding bullet, Leeds Pride is upon us.

In just three years, Leeds Pride has become the largest Pride in Yorkshire and The Humber and, many say, the friendliest.

This year’s event kicks off at 12 noon in Millennium Square, with the new main-stage boasting a bevy of talent including Jesus and the Felch Monkeys, Gay Abandon, Connie Couscous, MC Envy, Angela Lewis Brown, The Chirara L’s, The Dame Shirley Bassey Experience and many, many more.

2pm is the time for the pumped up crowds to join the massive Hero-themed parade, the centrepiece of Leeds Pride, as it sashays its way through the high profile city centre route. Expect outrageous costumes and colourful floats galore as the thousands of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and trans people, along with our friends, families and allies, arrive at the specially pedestrianised gay quarter around Lower Briggate. Here, they will be met by an array of inflatable marquees, a massive funfair, a champagne tent a community and artist market of 60+ stalls offering everything from rainbow dog collars to free hepatitis B vaccinations. You can have your hair dyed the colours of the rainbow and take high tea at a local hotel and who knows what you’ll take home from the CloneZone tombola?

For those of you who like your Pride more bass and booze, all the gay venues - and even those who can’t quite decide - have pulled out the stops. Queens Court and Fibre are hosting one of their infamous courtyard party this year with a fantastic open air laser show. Next door, from midnight until 4am Religion sees two of Leeds most popular nights go head to head with Blasphemy’s Lady Lloyd’s mash up of hard electro and ultramodern pop vying with De Hooch’s fantastic furious vocal house.

Over the road, The Viaduct has wall-to-wall live acts from 3pm until the early hours. Blayds bar plays host to a ‘Brokeback Mountain BBQ’ throughout the day. From 10.30pm, Homo transforms Mission into a sweltering Rio street scene. The ever-popular New Penny will be blasting out the party tunes and gay anthems into the early morning. Joining in all the fun, The Bridge will be delighting the crowds with DJ and cabaret supplied live on stage by Kira.

And a final note from the organisers: ‘The Leeds Pride committee unanimously condemn the alleged abuse of trans women at this year’s London Pride. We want to make it clear that all trans people are welcome and share parity of esteem at Leeds Pride. All discriminatory action towards trans people is condemned and is illegal and totally against the ethos of inclusivity that underpins Leeds Pride.’

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