Birmingham Pride 2013 – celebrating ‘Equal Love’
Cllr John Cotton
Birmingham celebrates 'Equal Love' this bank holiday weekend, as one of the UK's biggest Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) festivals takes over the Gay Village around Hurst Street for a two day party.
The fun starts as the spectacular Pride Carnival Parade is waved off by Lord Mayor Cllr John Lines from Victoria Square at 12 noon on Saturday 25 May.
The parade, which will include around 20 floats and a number of colourful walking groups, will take in New Street, High Street, Carrs Lane, Moor Street Queensway and Smallbrook Queensway before turning into Hurst Street and arriving in The Village.
Once at The Village there's plenty on offer with The Main Stage on Lower Essex Street featuring top pop acts, the Cabaret Marquee and Community Village Green on Hurst Street and a fairground on the Pershore Street NCP car park.
This year's Main Stage will host an exciting line-up of acts, including JLS (DJ Set), Paloma Faith (DJ Set), Bananarama, Lucy Spraggan, Stooshe, Rylan Clark, Misha B and S Club …
…whilst the Cabaret Marquee, complete with pink carpet, chandeliers, large bar and a champagne corner, has a line up of top cabaret artists from across the UK.
Tickets for the music and cabaret programme (which are then exchanged for wristbands at the venue) can be bought online from http://www.birminghampride.com/ and cost £8 for a day or £12 for the weekend if bought in advance.
Access to the Community Village Green Area does not require a wristband and is free all weekend. Turves Green Girls School will perform their song 'Say it Loud' on the community stage and the council's LGBT advisor for schools, Elly Barnes, will be screening the Educate and Celebrate showcase film. There will also be Village Games, such as an egg and spoon race and tug o' war, a women's arena, chic dance arena, a market and community stalls.
Cllr John Cotton, Birmingham City Council's cabinet member for Social Cohesion and Equalities, said, “Birmingham’s Pride festival is an important part of an annual programme of community run events that Birmingham City Council is proud to support.
“This year's festival celebrates 'Equal Love' and will highlight a lot of the positive work that is being done to address inequality in Birmingham. This includes pioneering work in our schools led by our advisor Elly Barnes and the council's LGBT group will also be joining teachers and students from 'Educate and Celebrate' on the Pride Parade.
“Pride is also a chance for everyone, gay or straight, to get together and party and I would like to wish everyone a happy Pride 2013.”
Birmingham Pride Festival Director, Lawrence Barton, added: “Now in its 16th successive year, Birmingham Pride is the largest LGBT two day festival in the UK.
“We will be celebrating the city's diverse LGBT community and we extend a warm welcome to everyone who wants to join us over the bank holiday weekend.”
For those who want to party on into the night, the area's pubs and clubs will continue the fun and entertainment.
The roads in and around Hurst Street will be closed to traffic for the weekend to make way for a safe and successful party.
For more information go to http://www.birminghampride.com/
Birmingham Pride is organised by the Pride Festival Committee with support from Birmingham City Council and a host of other partners and sponsors.
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For more media information contact Debbie Harrison on 0121 303 4476 / 078801 80385
