A month of celebration, education and commemoration begins in Sunderland this weekend (1 June) when the city’s month-long Pride activities gets underway.
The free festival of international music acts, film screenings, workshops, family friendly activities and exhibitions will be Sunderland’s biggest ever Pride, organised by Out North East.
And the activities will kick off with a huge launch event at the Bridges, with something for everyone.
A Pride tree is being installed at Central Square, with shoppers encouraged to write a message to hang on the tree.
Events this Saturday include children’s story time with drag queen, Miss Gloria Love, at 11am and 1pm, with a placard making workshop for people of all ages from 11am to 3pm at Unit 8 – next to Primark – which will also double as a Pride information hub throughout the month.
Children are also being asked to take part in a large scale art project from 10am, where they will be asked to put a handprint on a giant canvas, with the final piece unveiled during the Pride march on 29 June.
Other activities taking place at the Bridges for the duration of the festival include
A Flag in the Map exhibition – sponsored by Grand Central Rail and produced by human rights charity, Report Out – which features photographs and stories “that reaffirms the universal power of the Rainbow Flag to inspire LGBTQ+ people – especially in countries where their everyday existence is threatened.”
Peter Darrant, chair of Out North East can’t wait for the event to get started.
“This weekend is going to be the start of an amazing month in Sunderland, which we hope everyone will embrace and take part in,” he said.
Karen Eve, Centre Director of the Bridges echoed his words.
“We are delighted that the Bridges is able to help launch this year’s Pride in Sunderland and that we are able to be involved in the event throughout its duration,” she said.
Pride in Sunderland will culminate in the annual march on 29 June followed by a day packed with live performances including boy boyband East 17, RuPaul Drag Race star, Choriza May and local drag queens.
To see the whole programme of Pride activities in Sunderland visit www.outnortheast.org.uk
