The streets will be painted rainbow as CI Pride returns
THE streets of St Peter Port will be filled with the colours of the rainbow on Saturday for this year’s Guernsey version of Channel Islands Pride.
It is expected that thousands of people will take to Town, being involved in a friendly march from Candie Gardens to Market Square, carrying a 50m rainbow flag.
Market Square will host music and entertainment from UK DJ duo Freemasons, who will be headlining, supported by local band Element 6, a P!nk tribute act and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK stars Lawrence Chaney and Tia Kofi.
Market Square will be suitably decorated, with the return of rainbow steps thanks to PwC, and there will be a Coming Out Closet art project in conjunction with Guernsey Post.
‘This year’s CI Pride is going to be huge. It’s the 50th anniversary of the first marches in the UK so we are going all out,’ said Ellie Jones, CEO of Liberate in Guernsey.
‘Pride is a celebration of people coming together in love and friendship, to show how far LGBTQ+ rights have come, and importantly, how there’s still work to be done.
‘While we love a party and being colourful, we should remember the important message behind Pride which is to promote acceptance, equality, education about our history and to raise awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community so that we can make positive changes. We should all be proud of who we are no matter who we love.’
The CI Pride Parade is sponsored by law firm-led professional services business, Mourant. It will be the only dual-centred Pride event in the British Isles.
This year marks the 50th year since the UK’s first Pride march in 1972.
A week of Pride
. A number of Drag Kings will be coming over to the island to join the Pride celebrations and perform at the pre-Pride theatre show at the Princess Royal Performing Arts Centre on Friday 2 September, along with cabaret icon Dr Adam Perchard.
. On Monday 5 September, a movie night will be held at the Performing Arts Centre. The new directors cut of But I’m a Cheerleader will be showing. The comedy film, which has an all-star LGBTQ+ cast, follows a cheerleading-obsessed teenager who is sent to a strict summer camp when her parents suspect she is gay. Also showing is Paris is Burning – a documentary which focuses on the Ballroom Scene of drag queens living in New York City and their ‘house’ culture.
. A business conference, sponsored by Mourant, takes place on Tuesday 6 September at the OGH. It will be an afternoon of workshops and talks with the aim of creating an LGBTQ+ business network and support system within the business community.
. There is a chance to meet well known US LGBTQ+ author William Dameron on Wednesday 7 September from 5.30-7pm at the Guille-Alles Library.
He is best known for his book The Lie, which explores his struggle to come out as gay. He will talk about his unique story and there will also be the chance to get a signed copy of the book.
. More information at https://channelislandspride.org/gg/line-up/
