Exeter Pride 2017 details announced

Tuesday 22 Nov 2016
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Exeter Pride have announced details of its annual festival, celebrating the LGBT community in Devon, that will take place on Saturday 13 May 2017.

It will be the biggest free celebration in the county of Devon. The ninth annual event will include the popular rainbow flag parade from the St. Sidwell Centre down to Rougemont Gardens, where a packed programme of activities will await.

Last year thousands of people attended Exeter Pride and those taking part in the parade included community groups, firefighters, police, students, trade union and business LGBT+ groups.

The parade also included roller skaters, Street Heat samba band, a fire engine, an ambulance, Morris dancers and volunteers carrying a 50-metre rainbow flag. The events and activities during the day will all be family-friendly and include activities for children, young people and adults.

Principal supporters last year included Devon County Council, The University of Exeter, The University of Exeter Students’ Guild, Exeter City Council, Bill’s Restaurant of Exeter, Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services, EDF Energy, Somerset College, Nandos, Patronus Security and Vaults Bar and Club.

Chris Scadden, the newly elected chair of Exeter Pride committee, said: “Exeter Pride is a celebration of the city and county’s LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) communities.

“It is about us having pride in our contributions to not just a vibrant and diverse city, but all of Devon and the city and county having pride in us.

“It’s also important that, in the 50th anniversary year of the passing of the Sexual Offences Act and the beginning of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK, that Exeter and Devon show a message of hope, solidarity and support to International LGBT+ communities still facing oppression, imprisonment and often violence.”

Further information about Exeter Pride and other Pride committee-organised events during the coming year will be available on the website – www.exeterpride.co.uk or on Twitter and Facebook.

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