Pride in diversity took place today (16 June 2018) with a parade down Montpellier to Valley Gardens.
The event featured an open top bus, rainbow fire truck and police van. They left the Royal Pump Rooms at 11.30 to make a loop around town finishing at the Top of Montpellier Hill.
The Parade started at 12 noon led by the vehicles with the 50 metre rainbow flag and 18 Community and Business Groups following. The Parade finished at the Bandstand in the Valley Gardens.
The Party in the Park begins at 12.45pm with live acts, community stalls, sports and food vendors.
The Party in the Park ends at 6pm but the partying goes on at the Revolucion de Cuba at 7pm where the first drink is free with a wristband and Dancing at Vipers from 8pm with free entry until 10pm with wristbands.
Leonora Wassell said:
Pride in Diversity is about celebrating the diversity of our community and all the amazing work going on to make our district a fully inclusive one.
Under the umbrella of the LGBTI community we wish to include all those from all the protected areas covered by the Equality Act.
We believe that all should be treated with Dignity, Respect and Inclusion.
Assistant Chief Constable Phil Cain said:
It’s really important that we show support for these events as the police needs to demonstrate representatives of all society.
It helps us gain trust and legitimacy, tacklin areas of underreported crime, ultimately with the aim of eradicating hate crime
Detective Inspector Shelley Falkingham said:
My day to day job is as a detective inspector, based in York. This is a second and voluntary roll within the police force, leading on LGBT and diversity. Today we have many of our officers and staff that identify as LGBT taking part in the parade.
