Rainbow flag flies from Mansion House for York Pride

On the day of York Pride festival itself, on Saturday 3rd June, the city will be a riot of colour, music, drag, burlesque and dance.

The York Pride parade, which regularly attracts thousands of people, starts at 12pm at the Minster and ends again at Knavesmire, where the main event of the Pride festival will take place.

Pride flags have already been raised throughout the city center as the city prepares.

As previously reported in The Press, organizers have partnered with QueerArts UK to offer a QueerArts stage sponsored by local organizations across the city including York University and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Organizers say the stage is the “first of its kind” and will promote local and indigenous LGBTQ+ talent across singing, dance, drag, burlesque, stand-up and more.

Community drag artists The Family Shambles will host the stage with Bailey Bubbles and assistance from York consulting service Serendipity.

Headliner will be singer Beth McCarthy, who rose to fame at the age of 16 after appearing on The Voice.

Beth McCarthy will lead the stage at York Pride in Knavesmire (Image: York Pride)

Also on stage will be a performance by York LGBTQ+ choir Colors of the Rainbow.

York City Council says it would like to take part in the Pride celebrations to “stand up for LGBTQIA+ residents” – hence the rainbow flag flies at the manor house and the city walls are lit up.

Council staff will also take part in the Pride March from York Minster to Knavesmire.

Laura Williams, Deputy Director for Inclusion at York City Council, said: “Pride is a wonderful way to celebrate and support diversity and equality in York.

“Pride month and the annual Pride festival help us continue to raise awareness, stand with our communities and promote inclusion.

“We want acceptance and tolerance to be an everyday right, and we stand with the York Pride Committee and York LGBT Forum’s tireless LGBTQIA+ campaign and show our support. Please join us on June 3rd.”

Even the emergency services were enthusiastic about York Pride last year (Image: Newsquest)

Greg Stephenson of the York Pride Committee added: “Over the past few years, thousands of people in York have stood with the LGBTQ+ community during Pride. The parade was cheered on by shoppers, businesses celebrating diversity and parties thrown along the march route.

“This is wonderful support that affects us all. But inclusion and equality must be a year-round norm, where no one needs to fear exclusion or discrimination just because they love someone. Please, whoever you are, proudly support all LGBTQ+ people in everything you say and do.”

York City Council’s Council on a Couch stand will be back at this year’s Pride festival.

Information about adoption and foster care is shared – the council is working with four other local authorities to host regional adoption agency One Adoption North Humber, where one in five families approved to adopt are from the LGBTQ+ community.

City Council health coaches will attend the Pride Festival to offer free help and support for the well-being of York residents, and festival-goers will also be among the first to hear about the Authority’s upcoming “Our Big Transport Conversation,” which is due to take place soon starts.

According to the council, data from the latest census shows that in York’s population, two percent of people identify as gay or lesbian – more than both the national figure (1.5 percent) and the regional figure (1.4 percent).

Another 2.8 percent identify as bisexual — more than double the national or regional figures.

York residents who identify as trans men or women now make up 0.1 per cent of the city’s population – which is consistent with both national and regional figures – while 0.3 per cent of the population identified as other gender identities, i.e. 0 .2 percent more than the national and regional figure In 2021, the council voted to go trans-inclusive.