Manchester Pride has announced that a ‘significant’ number of changes will be made to this years celebrations - including the scrapping of MCR Pride Live.
The news comes following a six-month review which was conducted after members of the LGBTQ+ community indicated Manchester Pride’s grant-giving did not cover some of the key causes that mattered most to them.
Organisers say this year's event, held over the August bank holiday weekend, will put focus back into the Gay Village in a bid to reclaim its activist roots.
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The Parade, The Candlelit Vigil, the Gay Village Party, Superbia Weekend, Youth Pride MCR, Family Pride MCR and the Human Rights Forum will all proceed.
MCR Pride Live, which has attracted the likes of Ariana Grande and Yungblud in the past, will not go ahead.
As part of the changes being made by organisers, the charity organisation has promised the Board of Trustees will be more visible and connected with communities.
They will also commit to ensuring ‘greater transparency’ on the charity's actions.
Paul Wheeler, Chair of Manchester Pride’s board of Trustees, said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to the thousands of individuals who had their say on the future direction of the Charity.
“Manchester Pride should be something everyone feels proud of and can see a little bit of themselves reflected back in.
“We acknowledge we got some things wrong last year and we’re sorry for the upset and frustration this caused.
“It is important that Manchester Pride reflects what Manchester’s LGBTQ+ communities tell us they want and this review has shown how we can do better.
“The 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.
“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.
“Furthermore, we will commit a fixed amount or percentage of each ticket purchase to Pride events directly to the community fund and provide clarity on where the remainder of the amounts generated from ticket sales is attributed.”
Last year, Manchester Pride announced it was scaling back on funding of a number of services due to the toll of the pandemic.
LGBT Foundation’s Safe Sex Scheme and HIV charity George House Trust were both identified as having their funding cut due to the scale backs.
Manchester Pride’s report outlines four recommendations aimed at improving the service - all connecting to communities, giving, activism and transparency.
Paul continued: “The organisation has sought to address big questions and concerns, such as the role of Pride as a protest movement as opposed to a pop concert, how Pride can be more accessible, inclusive and safer, and how we go about giving grants.
“We’ve also tried to address how we can be more transparent and connected as an organisation to Greater Manchester’s LGBTQ+ communities, surrounding the themes of communities, activism, giving and transparency.
“Ensuring the charity now reflects the needs of our communities is now our focus. We don’t see this review as the end of the conversation, rather it’s the start.
“This report marks the beginning of more co-creation, more transparency and more listening.”
Further details regarding the Manchester Pride line up are due to be announced in the coming months.
