Gay Pride in Gloucestershire

FROM FYNE TIMES - July Issue

Organisers of Gloucestershire Pride are decidedly upbeat about this year’s event on August 9, following the disaster of 2007 when a lot of the county was recovering from ‘the great flood’.

With more than a month to go, the number of stalls booked for the event total more than 50, there is a fully line-up of entertainment on the stage, with all the artists making the approach to organisers want a gig.

“We have been declining offers for more than two months as we have a full programme for the three and a half hours of entertainment,” said Paula, the chair of the organising committee.

“All but one of the acts are from within the region,” she said.  “We have Stevie Maul, who won the Swindon Pride Idol competition winner, there’s Miss Trixie who is originally from Swindon but now making a name in the Birmingham area.

“Miss Kitty Litter is crossing the border from Wales and Cheltenham’s ‘Queenie’ is making the short trip to Gloucester with ‘her boys’.

The bands are headed by two local groups, The Bag and Bridget and the Big Girls Blues.

For Gay Prides throughout the world, this year has special significance – and Gloucestershire Pride is planning to take note.

It is thirty years ago that the rainbow flag, designed by Gilbert Baker, was first unveiled at San Francisco Pride (then know as San Francisco Gay Freedom Day) in June 1978.

“Our big problem is that we cannot get hold of a replica of the original design which had eight colours, rather that the six colours of today,” said Tony who is coordinating the stalls.

“And we can find a ‘Betsy Ross’ who can run us up an original replica.”

The other anniversary this ‘Pride season’ is that it was 27 years ago last month that scientists first publish scientific reports of the mysterious disease that had started to take the live of gay men in California – Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as it was then called, but now know as Aids.

“By coincidence, Terrence Higgins Trust is opening an office and HIV testing centre in Gloucester this summer,” he said.  “So they will be ‘doing’ their first Gloucestershire Pride – all be it six weeks after the anniversary date.”

In addition, there will be a handful of fairground rides plus the usual beer ‘tent’.

“While we are certainly not overstretching ourselves – our expenses in putting on the event total just under £2,500, we have put together a programme that has something for everyone, regardless of age,” Tony pointed out.

And he added that there had been “tremendous support” from both the Gloucester City and Gloucestershire County councils – both is small cash grants and in ‘kind’.

“We are a small traditional Gay Pride – but we like to think we have a big heart,” he said.

Gloucestershire Pride get underway on Saturday August 9 at 1pm outside the Shire Hall in Westgate Street where the march starts before going through the City Centre to the historic Llanthony Priory, where the afternoon event takes place.

Website:  www.gloucestershirepride.org.uk

■ On Saturday July 26, there is a Pride Promotional Night at The Brunswick in Park Road, Gloucester, from 8pm.  The Bag will be onstage for an hour from 9pm, with a DJ spinning the gay favourites for the rest of the evening.  Admission is just £3.