From Barry to Bangor Pride celebrations now take place all over Wales each year and help more people to feel free, supported, and safe as the nation continues towards its goal of becoming the most LGBTQ+-friendly place in Europe. Events like Cowbridge Pride, which was set up by Welsh pop star Ian 'H' Watkins, help to reduce isolation and increase visibility for LGBTQ+ people in more rural areas. Here's a round-up of all the pride events taking place across Wales this year.
Swansea Pride
Swansea Pride is set to bring celebrations to the city over two days in April. With a fun-filled Pride march, festival, and mini-Pride there's plenty to do for all ages and the event is free to attend with no tickets needed. Swansea Pride march will take place through the city centre on Saturday, April 29.
The museum will host a community zone full of information stalls, community groups, and organisations. The festival will take place from 12pm to 7pm on the Guildhall Rotunda Green. You can read more about Swansea Pride with full details of the line-up here.
Colwyn Bay Pride
The town's first ever pride event will take place this year on May 14. The day will be an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate diversity and difference with entertainment for the whole family. The event will take place on the promenade between Porth Eirias and the Horizon Shine café. You can find out more on the Colwyn Pride website.
Hay Pride
The famous book town of Hay-on-Wye will also host its first Pride event this year on June 17. The LGBTQ+ event will take place at Hay Castle and independent arts centre The Globe. Growing up LGBTQ+ in more rural areas can be challenging and the Pride event in this smaller town aims to "celebrate our diversity, with events and spaces created intentionally for our LGBTQ+ community and allies". Keep your eyes peeled for fundraising events at The Globe at Hay ahead of the summer celebrations.
Pride Cymru
Pride Cymru will return to Cardiff this summer. From the first gay march through the city in 1985 to the first gay Mardi Gras in Cardiff in 1999 which saw 2,000 attendees, what later became the annual Pride Cymru festival has gone from strength to strength over the years and Pride Cymru 2023 should be no exception.
There's a change of location this year and the celebrations will be hosted a little earlier than usual from Saturday, June 17, to Sunday, June 18. You can read all about it here.
Cowbridge Pride
Cowbridge Pride is an inclusive event to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its allies in Cowbridge and the Vale of Glamorgan. It will take place on June 19 this year following the success of last year's week of celebrations which included a boozy brunch, disco, pride gala, fashion show, and art exhibition. With the whole of Cowbridge and the surrounding areas invited to get involved, celebrity organiser Ian 'H' Watkins said the last event "absolutely blew me away and exceeded all of my expectations". This year Cowbridge Pride are launching a month of celebrations, activities, and fundraisers with all the money raised being used directly in schools for LGBTQ+ resources for pupils and teachers.
Caerphilly Pride
Caerphilly will host its first ever Pride Caerffili event this year with a day-long celebration set to take place from 12pm until 7pm on Saturday, June 24. According to the council website visitors can expect a family-friendly event which will recognise and celebrate the contributions made by LGBTQ+ people in our society. As well as live entertainment a Pride Parade will set off from St Martin’s School at 12pm before making its way through the town and looping around the Twyn car park area where it will end.
Deputy council leader Jamie Pritchard said: “We’ve been meeting for several months to consider the planning of the inaugural Pride Caerffili event. We’re confident that it will be an amazing day of live music, entertainment, and celebration as we come together in support of our LGBTQ+ community in Caerphilly county borough. “We at CCBC are committed to ensuring Caerphilly county borough remains an inclusive place to live, work, and visit for all and this event is just one way we can listen to the voices of our LGBTQ+ community.”
Other Pride events include taking place later in the year include:
- Abergavenny Pride: June 24
- Llandovery Pride: June 29
- Llanelli Pride: July 15
- Barry Pride: August 12
- Merthyr Tydfil Pride: August 26
- Pride in the Port: September 2
- RCT Pride: September 9 and 10
More communities across Wales are being encouraged to apply for funding to host a Pride event to ensure every LGBTQ+ person can take part in celebrating being their authentic selves in their local area. Earlier this year the LGBTQ+ Action Plan was launched as part of the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government and the Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru. The plan underlines Wales’ intention to advance equality and inclusion with the continued support of local pride organisations and pride events being one of its actions. Deputy minister for social partnership Hannah Blythyn said: “Here in Wales we want to ensure there’s representation in every town, city, and village as part of our ambition to be the most LGBTQ+-friendly nation in Europe. To play our part in providing a platform to make sure every LGBTQ+ person can take part iin and enjoy all that Prides have to offer.
“I know from personal experience the difference Pride events in local communities across the country make. When I was growing up in north Wales I could never have imagined a local Pride event and to see Prides happening across the country today means a lot to me.”
To find out more about submitting an expression of interest to organise a grassroots Pride event in Wales visit gov.wales/grassroots-pride-fund.
READ NEXT:
'It should never have taken me until university to feel at least mostly accepted by society'
'Living my true gender led me to lose four stone and finally find my happiness'
- 'You can just talk and not be ridiculed': The LGBTQ+ people and allies finding togetherness in Swansea
Drag queen whose storytime at the Tate caused protests pledges to keep fighting prejudice
