Love and Pride in the Bay
July 2009 marks a landmark event in Torbay as it sees the first ever Gay Pride Festival offering a mixture of nightlife, daytime and outdoor events aimed at the local and national audience, as well as visitors from further afield.
In a an effort to increase the range of people visiting the English Riviera, there has been increasing pressure over the past few years to raise the awareness of the Bay to the ‘pink pound’ business.
The larger south coast resorts like Brighton have been hosting huge and profitable Gay Pride events for many years now and they have become part of the annual summer ‘circuit’ of events along with those of London, Manchester and many more of the UK’s towns and cities.
With the new legislation in the UK protecting same-sex couples from discrimination (when booking a double room in a rural location, for example), the credit crunch and the rumours of a decent summer ahead, the south coast resorts are seeing more and more visitors and bookings are up. Organisers of the event are quoted as saying “The event is all about celebrating the diversity and the stunning natural environment of the English Riviera.”
Over the past few month a series of fundraising events have taken place to raise money for the event including a barn dance, fancy dress parties and boat trip.
Money raised by the pride events will be going to local charities.
Thursday 16th July
• Boat trip around the bay
• Pride launch party
Friday 17th July
• Open-air screening of ‘Milk’ in the grounds of Torre Abbey
• Traffic Light Party at ‘Candyfloss’ nightclub, Torquay. Dress in red, green or amber.
• Vocalist and DJ at ‘Bohemia’ nightclub
Saturday 18th July
• Pool party at ‘Key West’ hotel with community stalls, live music, DJ and charity barbecue. Proceeds from the food sales are being donated to the Pride Torbay charities.
• The big Pride Torbay Saturday Night bash at ‘Candyfloss’ with the best in 70s and 80s retro sounds upstairs and the main floor for trance, dance and party sounds.
Sunday 19th July
• Beach picnic at Oddicombe beach. Live music, artists, face painting, community stalls, and fully licensed bar.
• Pride cabaret street party outside the Meadfoot Inn with guest entertainers and fully licensed outside.
For more information see www.pridetorbay.org
