"Everybody's welcome" - Hull hosts pride in 2023

Pride in Hull 2023 will feature a parade through the city and several performers.

Author: Laurence GriffinPublished 29th Jul 2023

Along with a parade through the city, the city's annual celebration of diversity and acceptance features plenty of stars including rapper Tinchy Stryder, RuPaul's drag star Ongina and Disco group Boney M.

Actor Ash Palmisicano co-hosts Pride in Hull. He plays Matty Barton, the first transgender character in ITV's soap Emmerdale.

He said: "Everybody's welcome, obviously tomorrow is about the LGBTQ+ community, but it's also about everyone - we're all different as people and it's about having fun and being proud of yourself and I think we can all relate to that.

"Hull pride is so important because it reminds people just to celebrate, have fun, let their hair down and be who they are and just be like everyone else and have a good time."

Ash is an advocate of diversity and inclusion, promoting positive LGBTQ+ role models in schools and communities. Pride is his first visit to Hull, as he aims to spread the message of acceptance.

He said: "It's a chance to meet people who perhaps are struggling with themselves a little bit and give them a little bit of confidence and for me to be able to do that now is huge, there was a time where I wasn't so confident in myself."

With work being done to transform Hull's Queens Gardens, the traditional venue is being swapped for the city centre, with the main stage on Zebedee's Yard and a family area on Queen Victoria Square.

Savile Street will be closed for the day, and Wellington street, Humber Street and Humber Dock Street are closed for the parade from 11 to 12.

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