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Pride In Hull, Yorkshire

Updated on December 18, 2019
ethel smith profile image

With a keen interest in British politics this writer is never afraid to share her opinion

Fire Engine With Art Work Kicked The Parade Off This Year

Kingston-upon-Hull

Kingston-upon-Hull, known popularly and locally as just plain Hull, is situated on the north bank of the River Humber in the North of England.

It is at times a brash place at others cultured at others rough and ready and it has faced and survived a serious of knocks including heavy bombing during the blitz of World War II, the loss of its major industry fishing and many serious setbacks due to economic recessions.

But the city’s people remain warm and friendly underneath a sometimes rough and tough exterior and that welcoming side of the city was on display at Pride in Hull July 2018.

Made In Hull City Of Culture Early 2017

Local M.P. Diana Johnson Took Part In 2017 Parade

Pride At 50

In 2017 Hull had a year in the spotlight as it stepped out as the U.K’s City of Culture 2017.

The year began with a week long spectacular light show called Made In Hull which took place across the city centre.

In July of that year Hull hosted U.K. Pride as the country celebrated the 50 year anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality.

The parade theme was “50 Queers for 50 Years” and as one man explained to me gay people are reclaiming the word “queer.”

The Parade, Pride at 50, 2017

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Pride In Hull 2018

Pride in Hull 2018 was the name given to this year’s LGBT pride local event.

Pride events have taken place in Hull for the last 15 years or so but in the last couple of years they have grown enormously.

We attended Hull Pride 2017 and 2018 and had a great time at both

In 2017 we pushed our way forward for a great view close to the start of the parade, snapped many images and then headed over to Queen’s Gardens where there were various stalls plus a great range of acts performing.

The sun shone, people flocked to the area and it was reminiscent of those happy sunny days of my youth when it was “love and peace man” but this time it was fine to be gay and proud.

For the event in 2018 I was one of those people who helped staff the Labour Party stall at Pride Hull in Queen’s Gardens

This time the view of Pride was from a different angle and it was tiring work at times but it was still great fun.

Our stall looked bland and boring when we arrived mid-morning but after a reconnoitre it was soon colourful and eye catching

On my travels to beg LGBT rainbow coloured items to brighten our stall I came across a young man who turned out to be a Facebook friend.

21st Century life is so weird at times!

I am aged 66 straight and married for 45 years and he is aged around 20 I guess and gay. He had travelled from another English city to run an LGBT stall at the event.

We shared a hug before he handed over some colourful bunting they were about to throw away.

Our stall soon acquired plenty of balloons and freebies to give away but for me the pièce de résistance cost me £10 from a nearby stall. It was an LGBT coloured ”crazy chick” mesh skirt which I put on over my top and trousers.

The full price was really £15 but when the seller realized I was working the Labour Party stall he reduced the price as he “hates the Tories.”

England has enjoyed an extended heatwave and the weather and event in late July easily surpassed both in 2017.

Crowds flocked to the event which features a fun parade through the city centre before those taking part walk into the Queens Gardens green area of the city centre.

This year however the green area was rather yellow as grass has been scorched and resembled straw.

Pride In Hull 2018 Our Day

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The Past And The Future

Plans for Pride 2019 in Hull are already underway.

The event held on a Saturday is free and relies on donations.

The Pride team reports:-

2017 was a bumper year for Pride in Hull. Not only did we represent the city on a national stage when we were we named as the inaugural UK Pride, we were also the cornerstone of Hull UK City of Culture 2017’s LGBT50 programme.

Over 44,000 people joined us across the day and enjoyed our rich programme of culture.

But what about 2018? The pride team report

A massive thanks to all 50,000 of you for joining us in Queens Gardens to celebrate Pride in Hull 2018. It was the biggest event in our history and Hull… you looked INCREDIBLE!

The north’s biggest free celebration of LGBT+ culture saw over 2,500 people strut through the city in our technicolour parade.

So 2019 Hull Pride looks set to be another cracker.

The parade usually starts from outside Hull College at noon.

Those working stalls at Queen’s Gardens add finishing touches before the quiet atmosphere is broken as the parade and its followers enter what will be the main stage until evening comes.

Are Pride events still important?

Posting images online a day or two after Pride in Hull 2018 I was shocked by some bigoted comments they attracted.

The conclusion has to be - Times have changed but there is still work to do.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Ethel Smith

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