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Pride comes to Isle of Wight

Besi Besemar January 13, 2017

Pride come comes to Ryde on the Isle of Wight for the first time on Saturday, July 15.

Ryde on the Isle of Wight becomes the next town to announce they will stage their first Pride in 2017. A new committee has been formed and organisers are holding a launch party at Coburgs, 70 Union St, Ryde on Friday, February 10 from 7pm. The event will be fully inclusive and open to everyone.

An evening of live music, drag and cabaret is promised to give everyone the perfect opportunity to find out more about how to be involved as Isle of Wight Pride will need lots of volunteers to help make the event a huge success.

Tickets will be £5 payable on the door and all money raised will go towards staging the Pride event in July.

Whether you are a business wanting to sponsor Pride, or you want to set up an information stall, sell items at Pride, or if you are a member of the community who wants to volunteer their expertise and experience; members of the new committee will be available on the night to talk through their plans for the event on July 15.

There will be an opportunity to network from 7pm before you join the party to celebrate the launch of Isle of Wight Pride!

The new committee includes: Chair: Joe Plumb: Vice Chair: Zoe Thompson: Treasurer: John Brownscombe and Secretary: Yve White.

Joe Plumb
Joe Plumb

Joe Plumb, Chair of Isle of Wight Pride, said: “I am very excited about Pride coming to the Isle of Wight and the opportunity to help facilitate what I am sure will be a very special event. I am lucky enough to have been born at a time of growing acceptance for the LGBT+ community but I do have a strong understanding of the struggles that led to this point. Pride events are a strong reminder to those who have lived through criminalisation, Section 28, and the prejudice and abuse felt by so many. There is still a lot of work to do internationally as well as making equality in law a reality in this country.

It can also be said that the Isle of Wight lags behind the mainland in support and visibility for the LGBT+ communities. My vision for IWPride is for it to be an opportunity for us to take pride in how far we have come but to also highlight that there is still work to be done.

“We have had over 1000 responses to the questionnaire and we will be sharing the results at our launch event. From the results it is clear that islanders want an inclusive, family friendly, all day event, with a parade. We have set up working parties who are currently looking into how we can make these ideas a reality. There is a lot of support for this event and I look forward welcoming everyone to Ryde for the first Isle of Wight Pride.”

To keep up to date with all the latest news about Isle of Wight Pride, click here:

Or email: info@iwpride.org for more information.

 

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