Organisers of the first Grampian Pride event are celebrating as more businesses come onboard to support the event this May.
Aberdeen is set to host a march and festival event as the city and wider region shows it supports equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
With sponsorship now at £50,000, Some of the city’s biggest corporations are onboard, with BP, Shell and Chevron amongst the most high profile. There’s support too from the public sector, with organisers attracting funding from NSECol, NHS Grampian’s Endowment Fund, The Big Lottery Fund and significant advice and support from Aberdeen City Council. And city trade unions Unite and Unison are also heavily involved – the unions have supported equal rights for LGBT+ people in Scotland for many years.
Pride Co-Chair and transgender campaigner, Justine Smithies, told us:
“We’ve worked hard to develop relationships with a range of local organisations and we’re really proud that so many have stepped up to help with our first event. Our priority has been clear from the start – to make Grampian Pride as inclusive as possible, and for us that includes being a free event. So every donation we receive from businesses or grant from funders means we can keep Pride free.”
Pride Co-Chair and Four Pillars founder, Deejay Bullock, said:
“It’s amazing the amount of support we have received in the run up to Grampian Pride, both financially and practically. It shows that now is the right time for Grampian Pride as the community have been wanting this for some time. Without this support from local people we wouldn’t be able to offer the fun filled, packed day that we have planned.”
Pride takes place on Saturday 26th May and there’s already a stellar line-up announced, including Sandi Thom, Kit Purnell and Jack Rose set to perform at Queens Links. Hollyoaks actress Annie Wallace will also lead a colourful parade down Union Street before an afternoon of entertainment around the city as well as a charity marketplace on the Links.
Organisations can still pledge to support Pride by getting in touch with the sponsorship team via email: fundraising@grampianpride.org