Rainbow flags at the ready – Pride Cymru is back! Cardiff’s annual LGBT community event is set to return to the city centre this month and will once again fill the capital with all the noise, colour and extravagance that the pride marches are so famous for. Since its debut in 1999, initially called Cardiff Mardi Gras, Pride has returned annually to Cardiff (barring a single year off, in 2008) and over the years has gained support from the likes of John Barrowman and Charlotte Church.
Whilst Pride Cymru is pitched as a day (and night) of partying, as well it might be, the organisation also hopes to convey a more serious message. Its stated aims have always been to tackle LGBT-related hate crime, highlight the discrimination which remains an issue for many in the community, promote equality and embrace diversity.
As the profile of the event has been raised over the years, Pride Cymru has been utilised as a platform for activism on a more global scale. In 2003, Amnesty International used the event to raise awareness of the oppression of those living in countries where same sex relationships were still forbidden and since 2010, Pride Cymru has become a charity with a central objective of removing all types of discrimination.
The success of 2015’s instalment of Pride Cymru, when thousands joined in with the now-traditional march from Churchill Way and revelled in the joyful atmosphere of the occasion in Cooper’s Field, has acted as encouragement for the organisation of a bumper Pride this year. As per usual, the field will be transformed into a colourful party zone complete with live acts (among them singer-songwriter Heather Peace and 90s pop survivors B*Witches), a disco-centric DJ arena, fairground rides and food and drink stalls. Prior to Pride starting in earnest, Years & Years will kickstart the weekend of Pride with an open-air concert in Cooper’s Field on Fri 12 Aug (see p.46 for a preview) – setting the tone for what is sure to be one of the most colourful events in Cardiff’s calendar.
ELEANOR JOHNSON
Pride Cymru, Cardiff, Sat 13 Aug. Info: www.pridecymru.co.uk