This weekend marks the return of Manchester Pride - undoubtedly now one of the biggest celebrations of its kind in the country. But whilst the four-day festival will, clearly, feature plenty of good vibes, parties, parades and community spirit, alongside big, jubilant sets from the likes of the Sugababes, Jessie J, Rita Ora and Danny Beard , there is a deeper meaning to Pride that is always important to remember. Pride was built on the very roots of activism.
The most famous incident leading to the start of what has become known as the Pride movement was the Stonewall Uprising in New York in 1969. This began because members of the LGBTQ+ community grew tired of being ostracised and targeted. READ MORE: Manchester Pride 2024: Dates, tickets, parade and everything else you need to know So, it’s particularly fitting that this year’s event arrives a few months after the 55th anniversary of the raids at The Stonewall Inn.
Not only that, but this year’s Pride also comes 60 years after the formation of the North West Homosexual Law Reform Committee, later the National Campaign for Homosexual Equality, which helped decriminalise homosexual activity between consenting males here in the UK. These anniversaries become more relevant when you consider the efforts from some today to push back the progress made and halt what progress is still needed. As one of the Manchester Evening News’ reporters that has covered Manchester Pride on a frequent basis throughout the years, one of th.