Crowds gather as Leeds Pride marks 20th anniversary

16 hours ago

Fiona Callowin Leeds

News image — The annual festival, which celebrates LGBTQ+ life, held its first Pride event in the city in 2006

PA Media A person stands in front of a rainbow-coloured background. They have a rainbow flower headdress, multiple piercings and glitter and rainbow artwork on their face. — The annual festival, which celebrates LGBTQ+ life, held its first Pride event in the city in 2006

Thousands of people came together at the weekend to celebrate 20 years of Leeds Pride.

RuPaul's Drag Race UK and Strictly star La Voix and garage act Sweet Female Attitude were among the headliners at the two-day festival, which celebrates LGBTQ+ life.

Saturday saw attendees join the Freedom Party on Briggate in the city centre, with festivities continuing into Sunday with a sun-soaked parade.

A spokesperson said the milestone event would bring the city to life with its "biggest and boldest Pride to date".

Attendees praised the event for its "great sense of community spirit".

Festival-goer Andy had travelled from Bolton to mark this year's anniversary alongside his friends.

"There's something about Leeds Pride," he said.

"It's all about the local bars, the local drag artists, local people. It's close knit and you get that community vibe."

Three people smile, with their arms around each other. They wear bright rainbow-coloured clothing and accessories. — Andy (left) travelled from Bolton to attend, saying "there's something about Leeds Pride"

Other revellers enjoying the acts on the main stage mentioned the weather was much improved after last year's downpour.

Kayla, 22, said the first time she went to Leeds Pride, she was blown away by its "unreal" size.

"There's going to be thousands of people here being who they actually, truly are meant to be in life," she said.

PA Media A group of people waving rainbow LGBTQ+ flags. — Crowds turned out to celebrate Leeds Pride's 20th birthday

Agreeing, Jessie, 24, said it felt like a "safe space".

"I think it's even more important this year and it's nice that people are showing up.

"This is the Yorkshire Pride."

Their friend Casey, 28, described herself as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.

"It's been 20 years but we still need to be turning up," she said.

"It's for everyone [and] we need to show that everyone's so united."

PA Media A group of people waving rainbow LGBTQ+ flags and wearing rainbow accessories hold a large red banner. — Unlike last year's event, the rain stayed away

Anthony, 34, and Sian, 35, both from Knaresborough, said they enjoyed the "sense of community spirit".

"It's great fun, it's a great sense of people just being who they want to be," Anthony said.

"That's why we love it. You should be yourself at all times, and people should accept that.

"So that's why we come to celebrate and support."

A man and a woman stand next to each other smiling. The man wears an orange T-shirt and has short brown hair and brown stubble. The woman has long brown-red hair and wears sunglasses on top of her head. — Anthony and Sian said there was "a great sense of community spirit" at the event

Celebrating 20 years of Leeds Pride was "a huge moment for the city and the community", organisers said.

"What we have in Leeds is genuinely rare, and that's a Pride celebration that takes place right in the heart of the city," the spokesperson added.

"We're proud to keep Leeds Pride woven into the fabric of the city. It creates an incredible atmosphere and means the celebration is shared across Leeds."