100,000 people expected to line streets for Birmingham Pride parade
The theme for this year's festival is ‘Power in Pride’
The organisers of the Birmingham Pride festival are expecting up to 100,000 people to line the streets of the city for the festival's parade.
The traditional march will take place through the city centre and gay quarter today (27 May) as celebrations continue across the Bank Holiday weekend.
This year's headliners include The Sugababes with Cat Burns, Samantha Mumba, Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard, Gabrielle and Bwitched.
‘Power in Pride’ is the theme for this year's event, which organisers said is in response to rising LGBTQ+ hate crimes, especially against those in the Trans community in the UK.
Event director Lawrence Barton said: “It is now more important than ever, that we unite with the wider community and seek proper justice and equality for our community. There should be no room in society for hatred and inequality,
"Birmingham Pride seeks to challenge the injustices faced by our community and stands in solidarity with our global LGBTQ + family. Our parade this year is ground-breaking and will be represented by over 8,000 people from our community and seen by around a hundred thousand people in the heart of the City.
"I hope everyone attending have a safe and happy Pride.”
Jennifer Strybel, chief operating officer of HSBC UK, said: "As a business which calls the West Midlands our home, we’re exceptionally proud to support Birmingham Pride once again.
"As one of the country’s largest banks, we’re committed to use our position in society to support diversity and inclusion in all its forms. We’re building HSBC UK into a place where we can all bring our whole selves to work and where all our customers feel comfortable banking with us.
"We look forward to coming together in celebration and solidarity with Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ community this bank holiday weekend.”