Salisbury Pride IS going ahead this year
Some restrictions will be in place, just in case!
Salisbury Pride is back!
The city's parade is taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Gardens on Saturday 4th September.
It is usually celebrated in the summer months but Covid-19 restrictions on large scale events meant the organisers had to move it this year.
Last year the LGBTQ+ event was held online; it would have been the 5th year for the festival in Salisbury.
Restrictions are due to be lifted on July 19th but for those worries about them the Pride team have put some in place to keep people safe.
There is a limit of 1000 people allowed in to the event, there are barriers to separate people and there will be hand sanitising stations.
Caroline Corbyn is Salisbury Pride's Festival Director: "As things start to open back up I do think it is important that we do start to socialise with people because we've not seen people physically for quite a while and the contact has been minimal so I think to be able to have a festival where you can interact better is going to be nice and only time will tell, it would be awful if we are having to be restricted again but hopefully our event won't be affected.
"If pride is anything it should be pride in yourself, and understanding that we can all embrace each other and show acceptance, and I think Salisbury, for a long time, has been seen as non-inclusive."
THIS YEAR'S LINE UP
A full line up has just been announced on their Facebook page.
X Factor star Lloyd Daniels, who auditioned for series 6 of the talent show. He made it to the quarter finals as part of Cheryle Cole's 'Boys' category.
Other acts include: Evolution Choir, Spire Samba, Funk Soul Sista, Marina E, Scott Knox, Lucy Luscious Lips, Kyle Finn, Dixie Normous, Misty Lee, Paul Knight Magician, Pink Tribute, Becca Maule and more.
A RAINBOW CROSSING IN THE CITY
Caroline describes this year's Salisbury Pride as "One of the biggest events the city will see this year"
"We want to try and make it special. There will be music and entertainment, hopefully stalls and the educational side of it as well. Lots of people to ask questions to if you are not sure of something and where to go for help and support.
"We're still excited after the pop up shop because that was very, very successful and everybody was really supportive in Pride itself and the fact that Salisbury needed to have one.
"Also, there could be a rainbow crossing in the city centre or maybe a rainbow bench so there's lots going on and lots of positives, it's just trying to get everything together and to keep planning.
HISTORY BEHIND GAY PRIDE
A riot prompted a raid that took place during the early morning, at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. The LGBT community held a series of spontaneous demonstrations to protest against the raid and calling for the establishment of places that gays and lesbians could go and be open about their sexual orientation.
LGBT is a movement that celebrates sexual diversity. For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people it is a way of protesting about discrimination and violence.
Brenda Howard known as the 'Mother of Pride' started the first LGBT Pride march. As well as sparking the idea for a week of events around Pride Day. They have developed into the annual LGBT celebrations held every June.