When the Manchester Gay Pub and Club Olympics took place during the 1985 August bank holiday weekend, it was heralded as a success. The small event featured tug-of-war and egg-and-spoon races in a bid to raise money for local and crucial charities.
Held in the midst of the AIDS epidemic, it provided a sense of community and belonging to those facing hostility and prejudice on a daily basis. Just a year on from the Gay Olympics, Manchester’s Chief Constable James Anderton would describe gay people as ‘swirling about in a human cesspit of their own making’.
But the event, and subsequent annual celebrations of its sort, would aim to carry on the mantra of activism and community, while raising money for those working hard to break down barriers faced by LGBTQ+ people. Through a series of changes over time, it would lead to what we now know as Manchester Pride.
READ MORE: Manchester Pride 2022 dates, tickets, parade and everything you need to know
Pride today is very different to the event held 37 years ago. The idea of seeing drag queens taking part in an egg-and-spoon race today would face bewilderment from audiences more accustomed to seeing Ariana Grande on stage or knocking back shots of unknown spirits at 3am with a woman in a £5 rainbow wig they've just met.
Both have their place. I’m of the argument that a little bit of the old and the new is the way to embrace Pride. The celebration has become a Festival of sorts and that is needed in some ways. Many people still expect big names and late-night parties, and they’ll pay accordingly to travel from both in and outside of Manchester to lap it up. But the price tag that comes with that hasn't been for everyone.
Many, myself included, have felt that Pride itself has lost a bit of its identity over the years. The donation buckets are often shunted aside in favour of cocktails as people prefer to party over protest. The introduction of hosting larger aspects of Pride outside the Gay Village only exacerbated those feelings for some.
It meant that people could enjoy a Pride completely separate from the area which was built up for and by the LGBTQ+ community. While the Village can certainly get crowded quite quickly, and there are some concerns that could very much be the case this year, I've always felt like the Village and Manchester Pride should really go hand-in-hand.
Following a public consultation, Pride bosses announced that this year’s event would go back to its roots. Highlighting the current hostility facing the trans community in particular, it was suggested that the need for Pride to be a protest again was just as prevalent as ever.
Paul Wheeler, Chair of Manchester Pride’s board of trustees, said in February: “First and foremost, we’re a campaigning charity fighting for equality and opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals across Greater Manchester, and the response from across our communities corroborates that position. We want more input into the charity’s operation, with a greater focus on campaigning, lobbying and education, whilst seeing fewer celebrity headline acts at MCR Pride Live.
“That’s why we’re going back to our roots, our Pride celebration is about protest. As a result, we’ve listened to the communities’ comments, and will address their recommendations to refocus efforts back towards activism.”
With that in mind, Manchester Pride’s music festival has moved back to the Village, with a bigger emphasis on celebrating local acts. Of course, there’ll still be a few headliners for people to enjoy too.
Events like the Superbia festival have also been championed further, offering more free, inclusive, accessible and varied things to do than ever before. There’s protest parties, kids music workshops, and a showcase night featuring queer disabled performers.
Organisers are hoping this year’s revamp will convince people that they’re listening to the feedback and ensuring the original purpose remains at Pride. For me, the sparkle of Pride has always been about being surrounded by like-minded people and feeling comfortable in myself, while also feeling like I’m doing something that is contributing to the bigger picture.
With the work that Pride is doing, I have a feeling this year could be really different to recent Prides. While I’m still not expecting to see any egg-and-spoon races, I’m certainly hoping the donation buckets for local LGBTQ+ charities will be a bit heavier.
What Manchester Pride say about this year's event
A spokesperson for Manchester Pride said: "Earlier this year, we released a report following an in-depth consultation with Manchester’s LGBTQ+ communities, based on the feedback we received we implemented some changes to the Manchester Pride Festival. The research showed that our communities more than ever want to speak out for the issues that are important to them and that Manchester Pride should refocus our efforts back to our activist roots.
“Our communities have been clear in saying their must-have elements over the weekend specifically include The Parade, The Candlelit Vigil and the Gay Village Party, whereas MCR Pride Live was seen as less important to furthering our cause.
“Our Pride celebration is about protest. On Thursday 25 August, the Human Rights Forum will take place in the flesh for the first time. Produced in partnership with LGBT Foundation and named 'Pride Is a Protest' the Human Rights Forum brings together prominent activists and thought leaders to discuss the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities today. Then on Saturday we take to the streets for the Manchester Pride Parade and ask our communities and allies to join us as we March for Peace.
“We were keen to make it more transparent to our communities how much money from tickets is contributed to the Manchester Pride Community Fund. A fixed donation of £2.50 from every Pledge Band purchased will go directly to the Manchester Pride Community Fund and LGBTQ+ charities and grassroots organisations across Greater Manchester will be able to apply for grants to support their projects."
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