REVIEW: The Only Way Is Gay Essex

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22nd & 23rd June saw the return of ‘Essex Pride’ at the newly crowned city of Chelmsford. Being my local stomping ground I took myself and the other half down for the weekend to show our support and to have a nose around what was going on.

by Scott Sammons | 6th July 2013

Essex Pride

This is the first year that Essex has had a 2 day pride since the original “Chelmsford Pride” in 2003. In true ‘the only way is Essex’ style the community of Essex came out and ‘glamped it up’ regardless of the rain. Note however, I don’t glamp… so when it rained I ran for the nearest beer tent…

Based in Chelmsford’s Central Park Essex Pride consisted of community tents housing local sponsors and services, a main open air stage and a large dance tent (that housed the bar). On the main stage we saw performances from local singers, old favorite’s and even a national dance troop. Music performances were also put on from the very classic Booty Luv and vocalist Angie Brown. Plus performances from the very hot Anntix and had tribute acts like Little Chix, Just Jessie, & Pink. We also had a performance from the very hunky Lee Latchford Evans – I forgive him for being from Steps; he is rather delicious.

No pride would be complete however without a decent troop of drag queens so we were graced with royal visit from the Queen of all drag acts, the one and only Drag with No Name. Joined by a regal following including the devilishly kinky Wilma Fingadoo and the always luscious, Lola Lasagna.

On the Sunday, as well as feeling rough as old dogs Essex wanted to share in the pride with a dog show (Essex pooches have pride too you know). Contestants could enter their beloved pooch into a competition to see which pooch would be crowned pooch of the pride. Unfortunately I didn’t stick around for the winner (as I’m more of a pussy man myself) but the lineup looked tough for the judges! (I wanted the Labrador to win).

Along with the 2 days of entertainment and shows, pride was sponsored and supported by local businesses and services. This year more organisations took part than ever before and representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society, Amnesty International and Terrence Higgins Trust all attended. The local City & County Councils and services staff LGBT groups all attended and were sharing information (we even had firemen!!). Essex’s very own LGBT charity the ‘Outhouse East’ also attended to promote the work it’s been doing for Essex’s LGBT Community.

Like all Prides drinks were put on and provided for Essex Pride by the Cliff Pub of Southend with and music and support from Smiths Bar (Chelmsford) and Heavenly Fridays (Southend). Official numbers are still being collated but I suspect numbers may well be above 6000 over the weekend. For a local county pride that isn’t Brighton or Manchester, that’s pretty good going and something worth shouting about. Clearly Essex is on the pride map!

Being the well-connected socialite that I am (or claim to be dahling) I was able to catch the Chair of the Essex Pride committee, Tony Skeate, for a chin wag to see how he thought pride went.

“We’ve never delivered a 2 day event before and for a local Pride to get the numbers we have is a testament to the hard work the committee and our helpers have put in. Essex Pride is run on donations and sponsorship as well as the money from ticket sales so our budget is never grand. But with our modest resources we’ve put on a 2 day Pride that has brought the County together to celebrate our wonderful and diverse community. I would like to thank the other Trustees, Exec Committee and all those that volunteered for all their hard unpaid work and i hope everyone is looking forwards to Essex Pride 2014″. Tony Skeate, Chair of Essex Pride Committee.

I’ve attended most of the major prides within the UK (and even abroad) and believe that pride should strike a balance between a celebration and community reflection. Essex Pride, for a local pride, seems to be making huge strides towards that goal. The scope and services that were put on are big for a local pride, but the structure and setup of the day meant that people met other people and a real sense of community was instilled in the programme of the day. Everyone talks about Essex for one reason or another, but if you want to experience different prides next year Essex should be one to add to your list. Oh, and did I mention we have Essex boy’s?

Talking of which, anyone that watched “The Only Way is Essex” the other week would have noticed that 3 of the stars were at Essex Pride helping Bobbie find love. Charlie, Gemma and Bobbie came along on the Sunday and I believe even managed to help Bobbie catch the eye of a fellow Essex boy.

Essex love at Essex Pride… awwww, ‘don’t be jel, be reem’.

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