Barry Pride, who debuted to stunning success last September, are just one of the wonderful Welsh Prides who have confirmed their prestigious place at the first-ever Wales Wide Virtual Pride, on July 24 and 25
We may be out of the closet and still in this house, but the Pride Party is very much on – thanks to LGBTQymru, a respected new collective, who are passionate about working with, and for, all our queer family to keep us cohesive.
Thank you to the majority of our wicked Welsh Prides, from Barry to Bangor, Powys to Valleys, Llantwit to Rhondda, who have already pledged their strong solidarity in doing just that.
Barry Pride was the first Pride event in the town. It took place last year, and brought together members of the LGBTQ+ community, residents, High Street, charities and groups to celebrate throughout this special day.
The event included three themes, to Educate, Celebrate and Commemorate our LGBTQ+ community.
Organiser Hannah Isted said: “We did this with a week long series of activities leading up to the day including a live Q&A, film screening and proudly flying the flag in our town.
“Barry Pride is a way for everyone to come together with a parade and a day of inclusivity and we can’t wait for our next event, and the online one too.”
Rhondda Pride brought the first ever Pride to the Welsh Valleys in 2019. They are committed to bringing Pride to LGBTQ+ people in more remote Welsh communities. And go further than simply a one day Pride event by being an integral part of the Valleys Community.
From charity fundraising (for the local community) to promoting safe spaces and delivering outreach programmes, Rhondda Pride aims to provide support for as many people as possible.
Rhondda Pride is and always will be a free event for everyone to attend. They are committed to promoting LGBTQ+ rights across the political and social spectrum. Rhondda Pride will continue to grow and become a major part of the LGBTQ+ events calendar promoting Rhondda Cynon Taff as a place where equality and diversity are valued and everyone is welcome.
Bangor Pride was established for 2019 where it celebrated the city’s first Pride, and the first in North Wales for a number of years.
The event aimed to give everyone of the city, student and local alike, the chance to celebrate who they are and come together regardless of age, nationality, first language and, of course, sexual orientation or gender.
As well as having a celebratory tone the inaugural Pride also hosted workshops on important issues for the LGBTQ+ community to make sure everyone could feel comfortable in who they are. Bangor Pride looks forward to putting on many more events in the years to come.
MajorPride/PrideMawr was established in 2018 with an aim to celebrate the diversity in the historic town.
And put Llantwit Major on the map as somewhere inclusive and welcoming to live, work and visit.
The event was the first of its kind in the Vale of Glamorgan, with event spanning across the entire weekend. It is recognised as being one of the many successes of more localised prides across Wales in inspiring inclusivity and visibility.
Valleys Pride is a family friendly LGBT+ Pride Event run by Project Unity a registered charity based in Aberdare.
They had a vision to bring a wonderfully diverse and inclusive Pride event to Ynysangharad Park in Pontypridd.
After years of planning, teaming with GTFM, sifting through hundreds of local audition videos, dozens of meetings and thousands of hours, they created the perfect set for Valleys Pride 2020.
They have local bands and singers of so many genres, comedy, drag artists, family entertainment, all designed to promote awareness, family values, equality and social inclusion within RCT and Merthyr Tydfil.
Sadly, this event has been postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19 measures but planning is already underway to make Valleys Pride even bigger and better than before.
Powys Pride’s Chair said: “I have run a LGBTQ+ peer support group at Mid and North Powys Mind, based in Llandrindod Wells. It is a small but important group that offers support, friendship and a safe place for anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+.
Towards the end of last year, I was thinking that it’s a shame my area didn’t have a Pride festival, there are plenty of LGBTQ+ people even if we are scattered in this rural part of wales.
I put out a social media post to see the reaction of local people and the response was overwhelming. We formed a committee and were deep into the planning stage when sadly we had to postpone due to Covid19. Powys Pride was a huge step forward for Powys and we are looking forward to the future.”
Keeping our Qymru connected is the absolute focus of Wales Wide Virtual Pride. And it is free for all to watch, and take part in – across Wales, and wider.
As a completely not for profit organisation, LGBTQymru will also give back all monies raised directly to the communities it serves – especially the grassroots groups.
Wales Wide Virtual Pride, named on the Forbes List Of LGBT Digital Pride Events 2020, is an unique online event that will celebrate the whole of our community across the whole of our country. It will bring together all those living the LGBTQ+ life, in Wales, and our allies too of course.
LGBTQymru Chair Bleddyn Harris said: “Pride Season, with its events throughout the season, are the highlight of the LGBTQ+ calendar. And with our community feeling even more disconnected and dispersed, as we see our social events suffering those Corona Virus cancellations, now is the time to show solidarity.
We want to do just that, and we are calling on all Prides, LGBTQ+ community groups, charities, acts, organisations, and anyone else who wants to get involved.”
Please come and join us for a weekend of fun, entertainment, information, and education for all the family. We have already lined up acts and artists, quizzes and queer films, debate and drag queens, messages from Ministers and make-up tutorials, plus so, so much more.
All the Welsh Prides have been invited with Barry, Bangor, Rhondda, Llantwit Major, Valley, and Powys already confirmed. Other groups on board include Glitter Cymru, Bi Cymru, and Iris Prize LGBT Film Festival.
Massive thanks to those who have joined us so quickly – realising that this is the time to support and lift our LGBTQ+ family…exactly like a community should do.
We are proud that part of what makes the Qmmunity in Wales so special is its visibility, talent, and readiness, to make sure everyone is connected, even in the most difficult of times.
We know that this has never been more important for those of us living the LGBTQ+ life – especially our Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic queer family fighting the Black Lives Matter battle.
‘A better community is within REACH’ Panel Discussion, will look the need to provide spaces, platforms and opportunities for our LGBTQ+ siblings of different Races, Ethnicities, And Cultural Heritages (REACH).
Our Trans Family, are also facing an extremely uncertain time following the UK Government decision to scrap plans to allow trans people to self ID despite public support.
Our panel discussion, ‘I Am Who I Am,’ will look at the lived experience of being trans in Wales, what we can do to be more supportive, and an insight into the support, both long-standing and new, for trans* individuals in Wales.
Others include: ‘Can I Get An Amen’, centred around faith ‘A Life in Drag looking at the History of this art form. A much needed conversation around LGBTQ+ mental health, and, ‘Surviving The Scene,’ looking at the support available for those living with HIV in Wales.
Sign up to the Panels, our packed programme, of fringe events throughout the week, and all the exciting entertainment over the two dayer, by following on Facebook.
Are you a sole trader, small company, or big business who is committed to keeping our LGBTQ+ community connected – especially in these troubling, often turbulent, times.
Please come speak to us about Sponsorship if you want to make your visible mark on what promises to be one of the digital Prides of the year. For more information, please contact Ffion Grundy, our Fundraising and Sponsorship Officer here.
And/or donations, however big or small, can be made from now right up until the end of July through our Go Fund Me page.
Many thanks to those who have donated already – including Principality Building Society, Andy Garland Therapies, Coleg y Cymoedd, plus the many generous individual donations.
LGBTQymru are also looking for even more local singers and other performers to join the Pride party too. We want you please performers – so sign up here to take your place on the virtual stage by June 29th.
Wales Wide Virtual Pride is an one-off occasion dedicated to keeping our LGBT+ Community connected – and show the rest of Wales, wider, and the world how we work together so well.
So, Sponsors, Spectators, Participants, and Party Goers, please get involved.
See you on the Screen.
Speak soon.
Mrs SVJ
#LGBTQymru #WalesWideVirtualPride #KeepingCymruConnected
Find out much, much more, about the
Fundraiser by following @LGBTQymru on all the Socials. Click here to get the first-ever Wales Wide Virtual Pride in the Diary.
Wales Wide Virtual Pride is a free event run by a not for profit organisation who believe in giving back to our community. If you can help with any donation, or sponsorship, please visit our Go Fund Me page.
LGBTQymru, are a collective of passionate activists and allies dedicated to keeping our community connected – especially in these uncertain Corona Virus times.
Contact our LGBTQymru Team directly here.
Sue Vincent-Jones, is a Barry born journalist, editor, and communications specialist. Writing as Mrs SVJ, she blogs about Barry – and her life in the wider world, through the eyes of a, quirky and queer, local girl done good.
As a founding member of LGBTYQymru, Sue promotes the work of the collective who support, celebrate, and connect our community in Wales. She is also Associate Editor of their magazine – Wales’ first ever queer quarterly online bilingual publication.
Mrs SVJ, Barry’s Boldest Blogger, can be contacted here.