28/04/2021
Our home station BCFM was amongst the first media to report on Wednesday that after months of speculation, Bristol Pride will be taking place again in the city this summer. Pride fortnight will run from 3rd to 16th July. Pride Festival Day itself will be on Saturday 10th July. Organisers hope the march will go ahead in its usual format, but the community events following will take place in Castle Park instead of the Downs, a location the festival moved to in 2019 and to which they aim to restart at next year. The Pride Day event in Castle Park is open access and free, says Lowie at the Queer Catch Up Podcast – a ticket or wristband will not be required – but organisers are encouraging attendees to purchase a Supporter Wristband for the cost of five pounds. Pride Bristol say that in their full line up of events, which will be made public in due course, they will include a dog show, cabaret night and a circus night amongst many others. Once again, Bristol Pride will be promoting community values of solidarity and mutual aid between LGBTQ people. Festival Day will include stalls from cultural and campaigning organisations including political parties, action groups and charities. Food for sale will include vegetarian and vegan, and internationally themed choices. Disagreements still remain within the community however, with some smaller factions critical of allowing the military or Police to participate on the day, regarding these as impacably heterosexist and macho institutions.
