20 Years of Pride in Oldham!
On the 20th July Oldham Pride will be celebrating 20 years of equality and diversity with a huge party and parade!
At 12pm the parade will leave from outside Billingtons on Ascroft St and snake its way through Oldham Town Centre before arriving at the Queen Elizabeth Hall around 12:45 for the start of the party, market stalls, bar, food, rides and activities for all.
The parade will be led by a samba band followed by Oldham Pride with Fifi Olivia The Pink Owl and many other organisations, mascots, acts and representatives from local groups.
Cllr. Hamblett who is the Current Chair of Oldham Pride said:
“Oldham Pride is so much more than a celebration; it has also traditionally been a protest. It is a way to demand better in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and a way to express the freedom to love without being oppressed and judged for it.”
He continued by saying: “It is a way to celebrate how far we have come and to bring all sides of our amazing borough together to celebrate, educate and show we don’t tolerate hate.
Twenty years seems such a long time and it’s surprising to see how much has happened but we have so much more to overcome if we are to live in a place that accepts people from every background.”
Councillor Hamblett finished by saying:
“I cannot thank our volunteers from Oldham Pride Committee enough, the support from the Council, our sponsors, those who donated gifts and all who are attending – each and every one of you help to make Pride very special.
I look forward to seeing everyone at Oldham and hope everyone enjoys themselves at what should be a fabulous event.”
There will also be a Sunday service at Oldham Parish Church as well as an artisan market and live music at Billingtons also on the Sunday to continue the Pride weekend.