Reading Pride
{{Short description|Annual LGBT event in Reading, England}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
Reading Pride is an annual LGBTQ+ event held in Reading, Berkshire, England, that serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities of Reading and the Thames Valley.
History
Reading Pride was formed in 2003.[https://readingpride.co.uk/about About]. Reading Pride. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
2006 saw the introduction of a parade through Reading's main shopping streets to the festival site.
Since 2007, Pride has been a regular annual event at King's Meadow.
In 2008, there was an increase of more than 10,500 visitors which raised additional funds, to be used to provide support to a number of local charities and organisations such as BeYou, Gay Berkshire and Thames Valley Positive Support.
Since 2009, Reading Pride has added new attractions,[http://www.readingpride.co.uk/festival-festival-2_99.html Festival 2009], Reading Pride, 2009. including live performance stages, a VIP area, alternative performance enclosures, "chill-out" areas, a Youth Zone and Karaoke.
Mission
Reading Pride aims to promote equality and education in relation to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Asexual (LGBTA) people.
Reading Pride works for the community in Reading and around the Thames Valley. By staging an annual parade and festival the charity strives to raise awareness on issues affecting LGBTA persons.
Throughout the year the Reading Pride also supports other charitable and voluntary organisations within the community.{{cite web|last=Vaughan|first=Peter|title=CEO|url=http://www.readingpride.co.uk/view.php?category=about|publisher=Reading Pride|access-date=14 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505045951/http://www.readingpride.co.uk/view.php?category=about|archive-date=5 May 2013|df=dmy-all}} In 2015 Reading Pride helped launch MyUmbrella, a Reading-based charity representing lesser-known LGBT+ identities.{{cite web|last=Pride|first=Reading|title=About Us|url=http://www.myumbrella.org.uk/about|publisher=MyUmbrella|access-date=4 September 2018|df=dmy-all}}
The Parade
The first Reading Pride parade was held in 2006 and was jointly organised by The Wynford Arms. The Wynford Arms made a Rainbow Flag for the parade participants to carry from The Wynford Arms to King's Meadow.
In the years since, the Reading Pride Parade has started from Civic Offices and the number of people taking part in the parade has grown year on year. In 2012 over 500 people participated.{{cite web|last=Vaughan|first=Peter|title=CEO|url=http://www.readingpride.co.uk/view.php?category=parade|work=Reading Pride|access-date=14 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505042833/http://www.readingpride.co.uk/view.php?category=parade|archive-date=5 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}
The Reading Pride Parade starts at 11{{nbsp}}am at the Civic Offices, travels along Broad Street, Market Place, Forbury Gardens and ends at King's Meadow around 12{{nbsp}}pm.{{cite web|last=Vaughan|first=Peter|title=CEO|url=http://www.readingpride.co.uk/view.php?category=parade#route?category=parade|work=Reading Pride|access-date=14 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505042833/http://www.readingpride.co.uk/view.php?category=parade#route?category=parade|archive-date=5 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}
The Organisation
Reading Pride was founded in 2003. It is a registered charity (number 1119891)[http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ShowCharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1119891&SubsidiaryNumber=0 1119891 — Reading Pride], Charity Commission, UK. run solely by volunteers, aiming to promote equality and diversity in relation to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Asexual (LGBTA) people in Reading and across the Thames Valley. Reading Pride is best known for the annual LGBTA Pride festival held every summer.{{cite web|last=Vaughan|first=Peter|title=About|url=http://readingpride.co.uk/view.php?category=about|work=Reading Pride|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505055751/http://readingpride.co.uk/view.php?category=about|archive-date=5 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}
Reading Pride volunteers work throughout the year to raise funds both for the annual Pride festival and for the community. The team also works to increase public awareness of other charitable and voluntary organisations in the local area that provide information, advice and support on a breadth of LGBTA issues.
Reading Pride Awards
In 2009, Reading Pride introduced an award ceremony to thank the people that have made a difference to LGBT people in Reading and the Thames Valley.
The winners were:{{cite web |url=http://www.readingpride.co.uk/awards |title=Reading Pride Awards 2009 Winners|date=12 August 2024 }}
References
{{Portal|LGBTQ}}
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2056810_reading_pride_biggest_and_best |title=Reading Pride biggest and best – News – getreading – Reading Post |date=6 September 2009 |publisher=getreading |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2065115_pride_festival_needs_towns_vote |title=Pride festival needs town's vote – News – getreading – Reading Post |publisher=getreading |date=3 February 2010 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/8237405.stm |title=UK | England | Berkshire | National Front 'will not protest' |publisher=BBC News |date=4 September 2009 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/8236370.stm |title=UK | England | Berkshire | Gay Pride despite protest warning |publisher=BBC News |date=3 September 2009 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/3916193.stm |title=UK | England | Berkshire | Gay couples to commit with Pride |publisher=BBC News |date=22 July 2004 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/3759807.stm |title=UK | England | Berkshire | The Pride of drag Anne Robinson |publisher=BBC News |date=29 May 2004 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/8239845.stm |title=UK | England | Berkshire | Hundreds attend town Pride event |publisher=BBC News |date=5 September 2009 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/08/26/readingpride_csv_feature.shtml |title=Berkshire – Local radio – Take pride in your Pride |publisher=BBC |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.lesbilicious.co.uk/campaigns-politics/national-front-to-protest-at-reading-pride/ |title=National Front to protest at Reading Pride | Lesbilicious – the web's tastiest lesbian magazine |publisher=Lesbilicious |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5318.html/ |title=Reading to celebrate fourth annual Pride Festival |publisher=PinkNews.co.uk |date=29 August 2007 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|last=Willis |first=Richard |url=http://richardwillisuk.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/conservative-support-for-reading-pride/ |title=Conservatives Support Reading Pride « Richard Willis's Blog |publisher=Richardwillisuk.wordpress.com |date=8 September 2009 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- http://www.realpride.com/company/3266
- {{cite web|url=http://www.readingpride.co.uk/about-pride-4.html |title=About Pride : Reading Pride – Celebrating Diversity Within the Thames Valley |publisher=Reading Pride |date=3 September 2011 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- http://www.activreading.com/community/detail/ReadingPrideRoyale-3402.html
- {{cite web |author=Jack Smith |url=http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=1515 |title=Reading Pride refuses to give in to National Front |publisher=News.pinkpaper.com |date=27 August 2009 |access-date=22 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716061015/http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=1515 |archive-date=16 July 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.tvgpa.org.uk/page12.htm |title=Domestic Abuse |publisher=TVGPA |access-date=22 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055012/http://www.tvgpa.org.uk/page12.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}
- {{cite web|url=http://gaydarnation.com/UserPortal/Article/Detail.aspx?ID=24904&sid=72 |title=GaydarNation |publisher=GaydarNation |date=31 August 2009 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=http://gaydarnation.com/UserPortal/Article/Detail.aspx?ID=19134 |title=GaydarNation |publisher=GaydarNation |date=23 August 2006 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2004/09/06/reading_gaypride_feature.shtml |title=Berkshire – Features – Reading Gay Pride |publisher=BBC |date=13 November 2007 |access-date=22 September 2011}}
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External links
- [http://www.readingpride.co.uk/ Official Website]
{{LGBT topics in the United Kingdom}}
{{Pride parades}}
Category:Organizations established in 2003
Category:Organisations based in Reading, Berkshire
Category:Culture in Reading, Berkshire