Celebrate Love and Diversity at Birmingham Pride 2023
23 May 2023
The renowned Birmingham Pride is making a grand return for its 26th Year Anniversary on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May and around over 40,000 people will be marching as part of the parade. As one of the UK’s most anticipated Pride events, the festival celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and promotes a message of acceptance and inclusivity.
Why is it so important?
Birmingham is known for having one of the UK’s largest and most diverse LGBTQ+ scenes, along with a booming Night-Time Economy and the festival is the pinnacle of year-round activity around equality.
In 1997, Birmingham held its first-ever Pride Festival where local bars, clubs, the city council and the local community all united to celebrate and support the progress of LGBTQ+ rights.
On 8 and 9 July 1997, approximately 20 members of the Birmingham Gay Liberation Front handed out leaflets around the city centre and staged a small rally.
Since the millennium, the UK has seen several progressive changes, such as the passing of The Civil Partnership Act in 2004 and the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act in 2013.
Since Birmingham’s first-ever Pride, the event has now become one of the most popular and important LGBTQ+ festivals in the UK and each year attracts a growing audience of supporters to Birmingham’s well-known Gay Village to celebrate.
Who’s performing?
As one of the UK’s most anticipated Pride events, this year the festival is coming back bigger and better than ever to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
From popular music acts to a brand-new runway on the mainstage, the Pride festival has been an annual celebration of Birmingham’s inclusive community for the past 26 years.
This year, notable acts including Sugababes, Gabrielle, B*witched and Atomic Kitten will perform on the main stage and visitors will be able to enjoy the neighbouring Cabaret Stage, Dance Arena, Carlos Medina Stage (previously the Community Stage) and the Future Stage.
The Parade
But Birmingham Pride is much more than just music, the festival will also feature the annual, grand parade through the heart of the city centre, creating a fantastic atmosphere and bringing together people from all walks of life in a colourful fashion.
Businesses from across the District and wider city will be taking to the streets of Birmingham to promote a message of acceptance, equality and empowerment.
And much more!
No festival is complete without great food and drink and Birmingham Pride is no exception. With the return of the ‘Street Party’, visitors will have access to a wide range of local street food vendors, along with community and commercial market stalls.
This year Birmingham will also see the return of the Big Free Community Event. The event will feature keynote speakers, a candle-lit vigil and community stalls to create a safe space for all.
Michele Wilby, Chief Executive Officer at Colmore BID, commented: “Birmingham Pride has gone from strength to strength over the years. Starting as a march for improved civil rights, it continues today as both a celebration of the LGBTQ+ Community and a reminder of progress still to be made.
“Colmore Business District is proud of those businesses marching in support of LGBTQ+ colleagues in our community. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Pride 2023.”
For more information about Birmingham Pride 2023 and to purchase tickets to this year’s event, visit www.birminghampride.com
