Wolverhampton to host biggest Pride festival

The colourful celebration - expected to attract more than 3,000 revellers - is being organised by the city council, Wolverhampton Homes and the university, all big supporters of past Pride events, as part of the newly formed LGBT Alliance.

A question mark hung over the future of the festival after former organisers, the LGBT Newtwork, were forced to close their city centre office in School Street in March and disband through lack of funding.

The festival, to be held on Saturday, September 30, will be staged by William Power, of E11EVEN Group, who staged last month's hugely successful Wolverhampton Food and Drink Festival which attracted 18,500 visitors and generated hundreds of thousands of pounds for the city.

The former Wolverhampton Grammar School pupil has made a name organising raves, clubbing events, street food and music festivals for customers such as Microsoft, Apple and Topshop. He has staged LGBT events across the country.

LGBT Alliance chairman Ben Howley, of Wolverhampton Homes, said it was hoped to stage the biggest ever Pride event to celebrate the city's diversity.

"Gay Pride used to be about combating discrimination, and that is still a part of it, but now it has become more of an all-round community event." he said.

The festival will take place between noon and 9pm on Wulfruna Street, the Civic Centre Ceremonial car park, St Peter’s car park and the pedestrian area outside the university's Ambika Paul building.

There will be no march this year but it is expected to reinstate the tradition at subsequent Pride festivals.The Wolverhampton parade has welcomed human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and other LGBT activists in the past.

Mr Howley said the Alliance was formed to take on the services such as support, information and counselling formerly offered by the LGBT Network.

"Organising a Pride festival followed on from that," he said. "It was a bit late in the day to organise a march as well but we hope to incorporate that next year."

Wolverhampton council’s equalities champion, Councillor Paula Brookfield, said: “We are delighted to be supporting what we hope will be the biggest pride event the city has ever seen.

"The rich diversity of Wolverhampton is a real strength and it is important we celebrate it through this event in the calendar.

"Not only does it raise awareness of LGBT+ equality messages – but it provides the platform for a great family day out in the city centre.”

The celebration will be marked by live music, performances, street food, bars, information stands, merchandise stalls and children's activities, although the fine details are still to be thrashed out. An organising committee will meet next week to work on the content.