Suffolk Pride expand plans to include as many people as possible
There'll be 21 events to celebrate
Last updated 12th Jun 2023
Suffolk will celebrate Pride at 21 different events across the county this year - rather than just one big celebration in Ipswich.
Organisers say the change is being made to make sure as many people as possible can get involved.
Whats on at Suffolk Pride this year?
We spoke to Kate Lankester from Suffolk Pride, who told us more about what we can expect to see in Suffolk this Pride:
"Suffolk Pride this year is a little different from previous years. We're putting on a Suffolk Pride Fringe Festival that means we've got 21 events throughout the month of July in and around Suffolk.
"(There are) all various types of events crossing between wellbeing and celebratory protests - all sorts of different events for anyone to come and join.
"The main open event is called 'Pride Blooms, it's a flower-laying vigil with guest speakers at the (Ipswich) Cornhill.
"We're going to open it with a chorus of choir. We would like everyone to come in colourful floral outfits and if they can bring along flowers too to lay at the end.
"The flowers will be recycled and donated to Saint Elizabeth Hospice and EACH children's Hospice.
"Then after that event, we've organised a protest march for everyone to join in around town, because I feel the energy there is definitely needed this year for our community.
"We've had a lot of struggles this year and we felt that a protest rather than a parade would really be a good addition to this year's pride schedule.
"Then after that, we've organised several different event spaces for everyone to either calm down in the evening, or go out, party and celebrate."
The Pride Protest
Kate also told us they will be hosting a protest in Ipswich this year in support of the trans and non-binary community:
"There's a massive struggle - I know for myself, being a trans woman, that our community has been under attack for quite some time, so I think there's definitely going to be a focus on that.
"Otherwise, anyone and everyone is welcome and we shouldn't have to hide who we are and our expressions."