Powys is set to have its first ever Powys Pride Parade this weekend.
The landmark event will take place this weekend on Saturday July 16 in Llandrindod Wells.
“We are so excited to bring to life the first ever Powys Pride.” said Powys Pride volunteer, Ivy Taylor “This has been a long time in the making, and everyone has worked so hard putting together an amazing programme of events.”
The pride march will be kicking off with a parade at 12pm at the Lakeside Boathouse, and then from 1pm until 6pm there will be range of events including live music and drag queens, an exhibition space, a kids area with bouncy castle, and a dedicated arts and heritage tent packed with history talks, poetry and book readings, and other performances.
From 7pm onwards, there will be a party at the Pavillion, including drag queens and the Britney Spears tribute, Absolute Britney.
According to Ivy, the event is a “celebration of life and love and being who you are, without shame or compromise.”
“We hope that our event on Saturday is able to provide a safe, exciting space for people from across Powys regardless of their sexual or gender identity, to stand in solidarity with each other and celebrate who they are.”
However, for Ivy the event still has some serious political purpose.
“I’ve never known a greater need for Pride than right now," she said. "The current political climate is increasingly hostile to LGBT+ people, and trans people in particular. Every one of the candidates in line to be leader of the Conservative party has expressed anti-LGBT sentiment, voted against our rights, or been in cabinet positions that have actively made the our lives more difficult.
“Yes, it’s about fighting for our place within society and railing against bigotry in unashamed pride for who we are, but on a very practical level the hardest part about being queer in rural areas is the sense that you’re alone. Powys Pride is more than just one day in the calendar for us; it’s about having something for people all year around.”
The event has the backing of Powys County Council as they will be taking part as a Proud Council member, which is a voluntary partnership of Welsh local authorities who are proactive in the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people.
Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “I’m delighted that Powys County Council is taking part in the first ever Powys Pride parade this weekend as a Proud Council.
“We want to show people that the council is a welcoming and inclusive employer that supports and promotes diversity across our workforce while supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Powys. It is important that the council participates in events like Powys Pride LGBTQ+ people in our communities know that they have the full support of the council.”
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