Cheltenham Pride returns for another year

Last year marked the first Cheltenham pride parade in over a decade, and it’s back for another year!

Counting down the days until the 2024 pride event on the 18th of May, many people have shared their views on why events like this are needed.

Local Drag queen, who goes by the stage name Vertigo, has shared that leaning into the drag scene was “in a way, for me, a political choice”.

She has gone from growing up queer in Hester’s Way, with no LGBTQ+ representation, to being that representation working in their own hometown.

Vertigo had shared that working these events, like Popworld’s Drag + Disorderly, was “definitely tough, and not everyone understands it, but people are accepting and getting better over time.

“It’s a fun night out, but also, it’s a safe space for queer people and even minority groups. Any minority can feel safe there, we definitely still have problems with the straight crowd, but me and my drag sisters deal with it when needed”.

The parades had come to unfortunate stop in 2011 due to a lack of volunteer groups able to run it, but it’s made a comeback, and hopefully it’s here to stay.

This year’s pride event includes performances from a mix of artists, and performers from various backgrounds – featuring headliners Angie Brown, Copper Topp, and Kara Von Site

There will also be a dog show – entry will be £2 per dog/per class, with treats for all dogs. The top 3 in each class will get a rosette.

The class winner will get a trophy and entered into the Best in Show class.

The parade will meet up outside of John Lewis on the High Street at 11am, leaving at 11:30am, and arriving at the main event at 12pm

The main pride event will be held at the Imperial gardens, from 12-6pm, with this year’s event emphasising on inclusivity and celebration, and live performances from artists, drag performers, and more

Luca, a bisexual student originally from Cardiff, has shared that they believe Pride is needed because it ‘creates connections, and a sense of companionship’, another student – Izzy - saying ‘It helps people feel a part of a community’.

At the 2023 pride event, a record turnout of around 1,000 people from across Gloucestershire came to march in celebration of the diversity within the town and wider county.

The pride parade had been resurrected by Cheltenham Pride and Pride in Gloucestershire.