Loud, proud and painting the town pink
THOUSANDS of people stopped the traffic as they joined a loud and colourful parade through Bristol for the highlight of the city's first gay pride festival.
A motorbike ridden by two drag queens led the Pride Day march from the Centre to Castle Park, with samba drums beating and whistles blowing.
Organisers of the event said they were delighted at the turnout, with even more festival-goers filling Castle Park for an afternoon of entertainment.
Many months of hard work were behind the week-long festival, which featured films, music, comedy and a sports day.
However, the volunteers who made it a success said they were already thinking ahead to next year's event.
The parade formed outside the Hippodrome and set off behind Gareth Taylor, proprietor of the Palace and Bristol Bear Bar in Old Market, at the controls of the motorcycle in his drag queen best. Individuals and members of organisations from charities and football clubs to trade unions followed behind.
They made their way along Baldwin Street to Castle Park, where a stage hosted a programme of live entertainment. Visitors wandered among stands and food stalls, many of those attending travelling from places such as Cardiff, Brighton, Exeter and London for the day.
Bristol student Jennifer Rue, 20, said: "I've been to the Gay Pride in London and really enjoyed it so I thought I'd see what Bristol's was like.
"The atmosphere was amazing and everyone was just enjoying themselves."
Dave Phelps, 45, said: "I travelled down from Wiltshire to be here.
"We stayed all evening and just soaked up the atmosphere."
Bristol drag queen Lady Dior said: "It's taken so long to get this event up and running properly in Bristol but all the hard work has paid off because the day was brilliant."
Pride Bristol spokeswoman Louise Trimby said: "It's difficult to know how many people came along but it could be as many as 20,000.
"It's taken a long time to organise a Pride Bristol but it was a question of getting the right team and everything falling into place. We were lucky to get a team that inspired 200 volunteers to go out and collect money, unite the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and bring on board venues such as the Hippodrome, Arnolfini and Watershed."
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by Joe, Bristol
Friday, August 27 2010, 2:30PM
“Iain, all I have to say about your post is this:
[IMG]http://i34.tinypic.com/n4v0c1.jpg[/IMG]”
by Tom, Bristol
Thursday, August 26 2010, 4:19PM
“I was at the Pride event all day, and was impressed and wonderfully proud of all involved, and also the general public who were welcoming and thankfully unlike those who appear to post messages on here.
I am disturbed as always to see people in this country discussing ideas of a 'homosexual agenda' or a 'cause'- our only cause is that we can celebrate our slow but deliberate liberation from the days where our personal and private freedoms were impinged upon by those who would cite Leviticus, out us in workplaces and bully us in schools. Our 'cause' if any, is galvanised by your bigotry.
While I am not a member of the so-called gay scene nor am I particularly militant politically- as a liberal minded person I believe everyone has the right to express their opinions, beliefs, and celebrate who they are. However, when people begin to give religious reasons for our "sinful" existence, I can't help but think that our equality, or at least our right to exist without persecution has not quite been won. If there will always be bigotry, then there will always be the victims of bigotry and the liberal majority standing up and opposing you with a moral shout that will shake even the most vociferous of anachronistic religious arguments.”
by ABC, Bristol
Thursday, August 26 2010, 3:46PM
“Glad I am not friends with NPC. Afriad I might do someting to offend it, bend the wrong way or flaunt something abot me in its face.”
by Florence Rose Endellion, Bristol
Thursday, August 26 2010, 3:43PM
“I am glad there are such nice comments, but when there was a celebration a few weeks back inviting people from different communities to enjoy and learn about African & Asian & British cultures there was an uproar . . such things as go back to where they come from and other negative comments.
Just goes to show discrimination is everywhere, gay, not white, white, male, female, trans or of the older generation, it doesnt matter, as some one will always find fault and moan.”
by tony, Bristol
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 5:09PM
“@Bristol, Bristol
I believe that Iain's post should not be deleted because it should be seen for what it is! Apart from that, deleting his post made mine redundant.
However, I too am still waiting for Iain to justify why he is cherry picking what is or isn't Gods Law and why he feels that he can dismiss me as shallow because I am not born again when that seems just a convenient way to avoid the question.”