Host of activities on offer to celebrate Pride Month
June is Pride Month, and is a month-long global celebration. The reason it is celebrated in the month of June is because this was the month in 1969 when the Stonewall riots took place in America and changed gay rights for a lot of people around the world. The month is usually celebrated with parades and marches, with people coming together in love and friendship.
Pride Month 2023
Shropshire Council is taking the opportunity to share local activities during the month. This includes activities organised by Ludlow Pride and by Shrewsbury Pride.
The first event is on Saturday 3rd June, with a drag night at Ludlow Brewing Company, from 7pm. There is then an LGBTQ+ clothes swap at Community @ In Good Hands Café in Frankwell, Shrewsbury, from 12 noon till 4pm on Saturday 10th June.
There is also an LGBTQ+ focused creative writing workshop, taking place from 7pm to 9pm on Tuesday 13th June, 7pm-9pm. This is also at the Community@ In Good Hands Café.
Councillor Cecilia Motley, portfolio holder for communities, said:
“It is great that there are a range of local activities being planned to take place during international Pride Month. I commend such efforts to raise the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community in Shropshire and show support to the diversity of individuals who may describe themselves as being part of this community. The Council will issue a round up of how these have gone, at the end of a month of many celebrations.”
The organisers for the Dungeons and Drag Kings Drag Night in Ludlow have said:
“Kick off Pride Month right at Ludlow Brewing Co. on Saturday 3rd June to witness Shropshire’s premier drag troupe, Dungeons and Drag Kings, in an unforgettable drag show! Tickets are £10 and lanyards are available for those that do not wish to be interacted with. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to PRIDE Ludlow to help fund future events”
The organisers for the clothes swap in Shrewsbury have said:
“This is an event for LGBTQ+ people to come and swap their old clothes for new ones with other members of the community, as many queer and trans people struggle to shop for clothes that suit their authentic self in highstreet fashion outlets. The first run of this event last month was very successful and we had a wonderful supportive environment! People are also welcome to come along and pick up clothes for loved ones, we just ask that people do not take clothes with the intention to sell them on as this is meant to allow access to good quality clothes to people that would otherwise struggle to find them. “
After the event is finished, practical leftover clothes such as trousers, coats, shirts, etc will be transported to Shrewsbury Ark, a group which supports the homeless in Shrewsbury, for their clients to use.
The name for Pride Month was first coined by L. Craig Schoonmaker in 1970. In 1978, the rainbow flag was created by American artist and gay rights activist Gilbert Baker. It was first displayed on June 25th 1978, for the San Francisco Gay Freedom Parade. It was not until 1994 that the rainbow flag was truly established as the symbol for LGBT+ pride. That year, Baker made a mile-long version for the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Now the rainbow flag is an international symbol for pride and can be seen flying proudly, during both the promising times and the difficult ones, all around the world.
The council will also be flying a rainbow flag outside the Shirehall offices during part of this month.
Further information
Listing of Shropshire Pride Celebrations
Pride Month event: Pride Ludlow Presents Dungeons and Drag Kings Drag Night
Date and time: Saturday 3rd June, doors open at 7pm
Venue: Ludlow Brewing Company, The Railway Shed, Station Dr, Ludlow SY8 2PQ
Here are the booking details about the drag show: Ludlow Pride is then coming up in August, with events planned including a street festival.
Here is a link to the Pride Ludlow Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/prideludlow/
Pride Month event: Shrewsbury LGBTQ+ clothes swap
Date and time: Saturday 10th June, 12 noon to 4pm
Venue: Community @ In Good Hands Cafe, Frankwell, Shrewsbury, SY3 8JR
Pride Month event: Queer Words, an LGBTQ+ focused creative writing workshop
Date and time: Tuesday 13th June, 7pm-9pm
Venue: Community@ In Good Hands Cafe, Frankwell, Shrewsbury, SY3 8JR
The organisers have said:
“Tuesday 13th June will see the first LGBTQ+ creative writing workshop meet-up which will continue onwards at the cafe on the 2nd Tuesday of every month going forwards. Whether you’re a poet, a story teller, scriptwriter or scribe, all backgrounds and abilities are very welcome. Please note, there is a £3 nominal charge per attendee to cover hiring fees.”
Here is a link to the Shrewsbury LGBTQ+ group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/278098381179408/
