(GayWebSource.com – Gay News & Press Network) – Posted by SeasonsofPride.com

York Pride – Under the banner of ‘Raise your Rainbow’, York Pride has again teamed up with Benenden, health & well-being provider and major York employer, to make the 2015 York Pride the most visible and celebratory yet. York, England.

York Pride 2015

York Pride is a registered charity which aims to promote equality, diversity and advances in education, in order to eliminate discrimination against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community.

York Pride 2013 Parade

York Pride raises awareness of LGBT issues by promoting and staging events, taking part in campaigning and commentary in the media, and providing support to other LGBT charities and voluntary organisations. We also promote the provision of information, advice and support that celebrate LGBT lives and history. We aim for York to be a place where everybody knows that the diversity offered by the LGBT community is something to be celebrated and in which LGBT people can feel safe and accepted. We believe that inclusiveness improves self esteem and provides a sense of belonging, which helps to diminish the psychological effects of discrimination faced by individuals in daily life.

Our summer Pride event, which takes place within a Pride festival week, provides our main platform for a celebration of the diversity of the LGBT community in a context of entertainment, inclusivity and fun. The event is a focus for the visibility of the LGBT community in York and provides an opportunity to draw attention to important LGBT issues. Our 2011 Pride was dedicated to the memory of David Kato, a Ugandan gay rights activist who had studied in York and was murdered in his own country because of his sexuality, and featured speeches and a balloon release in his honour. This was attended by an estimated 1,000 visitors, together with acts, stallholders, local community representatives and also York’s MP.

Our 2012 event focussed on Marriage Equality, 2012 also saw our first ever Parade through the City Centre. This was attended by an estimated 1,500 visitors, together with acts, stallholders, local community representatives and also York’s MP.

2013 was out most successful event to date with over 2,500 attending throughout the day, the City Centre parade grew to double that of 2012. Our theme for 2013 was Out in Sport, we worked closely with York City FC and York City Knights to raise awareness of homo and transphobia in York. There was an even greater selection of stallholders with a wonderful lineup of entertainment.

2014 looks set to be out biggest and best event yet, our amazing lineup headlined by Heather Peace has certainly raised the profile of York Pride with attendees looking set to attend from right across the UK!

Equal Marriage Protest February 2012

The history of Pride in York (that we know of!) stretches back to 2006 and began as a very modest gathering of two dozen people at an afternoon event in Tower Gardens. Since then, it has evolved into the biggest Pride event in the County. Pride is going from strength to strength and our events and activities have continued to expand.

In October 2011 York Pride launched OUTrageous, an LGBT Club night. York Pride has been visible in campaigning and commenting on LGBT issues, such as a high profile Protest for Marriage Equality outside York Minster and subsequent work encouraging the community to engage with the wider marriage equality debate.

In 2012 we campaigned, successfully, for the Rainbow Flag to be flown over the Mansion house during Pride weekend and held the very first Pride Parade through the streets of York.

In 2013 we successfully applied to be a registered charity and launched the Proud club event for the LGBT community.

The events York Pride organise are about community not commerce and always offer a variety of community facilities. We work closely with City of York Council staff, elected Councillors, Members of Parliament, Police, and licensing authorities to ensure our events are both safe and successful.

York Pride Committee 2013

York Pride is operated by a small team of unpaid volunteers who are working hard to continue to improve Pride for the benefit of the LGBT and wider community. We depend upon sponsorship, donations from events, local businesses and supporters and the money we raise through our fundraising activities. If you feel that you could help to support our work, by making a donation, becoming a sponsor, attending one or our events, or offering a few hours of your time, we would welcome your involvement. Details can be found on the ‘Get Involved’ pages of this website.

We are always keen to improve what we do and to be welcoming to all members of the community. If you have any comments or feedback or would like to get involved in any way, we would love to hear from you.

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