Jersey brings Pride parade forward to August

Originally the event, which switches between Guernsey and Jersey each year, was planned for September.

Channel Islands Pride director Christian May said a series of issues had been considered, including clashes with other local and Pride events, and working with the Bailiff’s Chambers, the States of Jersey Development company and the honorary police.

‘There has been lots of to-ing and fro-ing but by bringing it into the summer, touch wood, hopefully we’ll have glorious sunshine,’ he said. ‘All the work we’re doing now is booking acts.

‘Lots of acts and people involved with Pride events everywhere are looking at what the UK is doing with Covid restrictions and whether travel will be allowed.

‘Looking at how things are moving in the UK, Guernsey, here and the rest of the common travel area, we are confident that with low Covid numbers and a high roll-out of vaccines we will be in the best position we possibly can be. You can never be sure, but we have to be positive.’

Jersey is expecting that large-scale public events should be able to take place in the island from June. If restrictions were in force, the organisers have plans to get around that.

The event, headline sponsored by the CI Co-operative Society, will also be streamed online and on a large screen in Guernsey. But Mr May hoped that Guernsey visitors would be able to attend.

‘We hope that people in Guernsey, whether or not they are LGBT, feel welcome – it’s a community celebration to bring people together – and are not put off by us moving the date. I think people are now used to things moving around, and it has been done for safety reasons.’

Last year’s CI Pride in Guernsey was the only British Pride event to go ahead in 2020.

n Visit channelislandspride.org for more information.