Saturday 5th September 2015

It is with great pride

that hundreds of people took to the streets today to celebrate Leicester’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. And what a marvellous event it was.

The parade started at Orton Square and made its way to Victoria Park.

As with all Pride parades there was the huge rainbow flag, the international symbol of gay pride, carried by a team of people, happy to show the world what being out and proud is all about.

The crowd gathered at Victoria Park to enjoy a day of live music from the main stage and from the DJ tent for a show that lasted from 12 noon to 8pm.

On the main stage Councillor Rory Palmer, the deputy Mayor of Leicester, welcomed everyone on behalf of the city’s authorities.

The stage brought a host of singers and dancers and entertainers.

Artists from Leicester and around the UK came on stage to entertain the crowd.

Two artists in particular were of international standing.  Sam Bailey, from Leicestershire and a winner of the TV series X Factor, was one of the star attractions of the day.

Sam sang many of the songs for which she is known and remembered.

Another artist who is famous throughout the world is Lisa Lashes.

During her appearance pyrotecnic artists put on some dazzling displays.

The stage provided a whole day of entertainment free of charge for everybody who wanted to be there.

The weather was kind giving festival-goers sunny periods and dry conditions throughout the day.

Artists on the programme included:

Lisa Lashes (DJ) , Robbie Lewis, (DJ), Gareth Hazard (DJ), Alex Dewinter (DJ), Bimbo Jones (DJ), Andy Smith (DJ), Rob Lambeth (DJ), Sparki Trowell (DJ). Stephen Bailey, Miss Marty, Miss Penny, Diva Fever, Brenda Edwards, Chris Shaulders, Lee Bennett, Lea Martin.

In an article about A History of Pride and Why We Need It, in the programme, is said

Influenced by the Stonewall Rebellion in the USA that started on 28th June 1969, The first UK Pride rally was hel in London in 1972 with 1,000 people marching from Trafalgar Square to Hyde Park, only five years after relations between two males had been decriminalised. The people who marched in this rally would have been subject to barrage of abuse and misconceptions somewhat similar to that seen only last year at a Gay Pride festival in Russia.

Nothing like this happened in Leicester in 2015. It was a day that many will remember with happiness and joy.

See also:

Our report on Leicester Pride 2014