Birmingham Pride has begun with a bang, and over 80,000 are expected to attend the outdoor LGBT celebrations in the city’s Gay Quarter over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The UK’s largest two-day Pride in the UK began with a vibrant, colourful and energetic parade, which made its way through the city. Joining the many floats, costumes, rainbow flags and musical performers were trade unions, charities, anti-racism and anti-homophobia groups and LGBT awareness organisations.
Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips was spotted dancing her way through the city centre alongside her family as the streets were awash with rainbow colours and hundreds lined the streets from Victoria Square to Hurst Street to watch the parade go past. Not to be outdone, the city’s Conservative affiliated LGBT group set up a ‘Kiss A Tory’ booth, accompanied by the hashtag #IKissedATory.
The highlight of the day was the marriage proposal which launched the twentieth Birmingham gay pride festivities. Birmingham native Thomas Jones asked his boyfriend David Fox to marry him. Cheers erupted across the square when Fox said ‘yes’.
“I’m happy, very excited, very nervous. I am shaking. I proposed to him but he didn’t know it was coming and I didn’t tell him. I wanted to ask him in October but then when I found out he was going to be wearing a bride’s dress at Birmingham Pride, I decided to do it here. I’m so glad he said yes, and we’re both very happy.”
Although Thomas is from the city, the couple live in Manchester, from where his now fiancé David hails.
To mark Pride weekend, The Chocolate Quarter in the Jewellery Quarter created special rainbow themed confectionery. Redesigning their ‘Sparkling Peach Bellini’ dark chocolate truffle to include a rainbow stripe coloured ganache.
Just off Victoria Square, Jake Hollier who runs Jake’s Coffee Box was offering a special rainbow cake to revellers. Housed in one of the country’s smallest cafe’s – a red phone box – Jake was delighted to be marking the annual event.
“Because it’s Birmingham Pride, we’re doing a versus challenge with U-Juice who are based in the indoor market. We’re gonna see who sells the most. The rainbow cake we have is proving popular.”
As a spectrum of colours enveloped everything from food, t-shirts, flags, stalls, balloons, floats, and costumes; banners and placards showcasing the diversity of the LGBT community were displayed for excited crowds.
With the two-day extravaganza taking over the ‘gay village’, attendees have been enjoying a carnival atmosphere of music, food, fairground rides and clubbing as the street party continues until the early hours on Sunday night.
Saturday’s performance highlights included Joseph Whelan, Katy B, Anne-Marie, Dakota, Liberty X, Imani, Fleur East, Riton and Marvin Humes on the main stage. A cabaret marquee hosted some of the city’s best drag acts, such as Lola Lasagne, Dj Miss Penny and Miss Marty.
Mason Noise, girl band Stooshe, Union J’s Jaymi Hensley, Ms Dynamite, Karen Harding, Lisa Stansfield, Vengaboys and Erasure’s Andy Bell are Sunday’s entertainment showcase on the main stage. Local drag artist icon Twiggy is performing a new show on the cabaret stage this evening before The DE Experience comes out of retirement for a one-off performance. Birmingham’s rising star Call Me Unique will be singing this evening in the Women’s Tent alongside a host of acts performing throughout the day.
Britain’s Got Talent judge and singing sensation Alesha Dixon will also be making a special appearance at the Nightingale Club on Sunday night, while Marc Almond, Sam Bailey and The X Factor’s Seann Miley Moore will be on stage at the Eden bar.
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