UK Gay Prides 2009 - all gay and lesbian mardi gras parades, Gay Pride London. Brighton Gay Pride, Manchester Gay Pride,

Pride organisers met in manchester in ameeting organised by Upton Clew, with a programme of seminars, speakers and workshops, and sponsored by Pride Life magazine. Delegates discussed their previous year's events and introduced their plans for the future. Outside presentations were made, including:

- information on successfully policing big events from Matthew Stone of the Met Police

- health and safety concerns from Richard Limb of Capita Symonds

- advice from Robert Berkeley of BGMAG, the Black Men's Advisory Group, on engaging with BME black and ethnic minority) communities.

Wider discussions over the weekend turned to grants, sponsorship and funding - a crucial aspect to most pride events. Ideas, such as a mentoring scheme, were also mooted during the breaks, as were suggestions of twinning and other issue-specific support including marketing and media planning.

The Saturday evening gave attendees the opportunity to socialise, with delegates enjoying dinner at the Radisson Edwardian Manchester, sponsored by Marketing Manchester, befre taking advantage of the bright lights of Canal Street.

The conference marked a massive step forward, not only for United Prides, but generally too for Pride organisations all over the country. Indeed the main message that came from the conference was that with adequate and sustainable support, Prides across the UK will have the opportunity to prosper within each of their local communities.

Attending Prides included: Birmingham , Blackpool, Bournemouth, Doncaster, Gloucestershire, Hull, Lincolnshire, London, manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Brighton & Hove, Reading, South Yorkshire, Three Counties, and Student Pride.

MEDIA INFORMATION - 24 September 2007
European Pride Organisers Association (epoa)

EuroPride 2010 goes to Warsaw

Other news:

- Stockholm unveils EuroPride 2008 theme: “Swedish Sin, Breaking Borders”
- EuroPride Madrid 2007 biggest EuroPride ever
- New Board elected

Gay and Lesbian Pride Committees from all over Europe met for the 14th international conference of the European Pride Organisers Association (epoa) in Stockholm from September 20-23 to discuss international Pride issues, inspect Stockholm as the host of EuroPride 2008 and select the host city of EuroPride 2010.

First EuroPride in Eastern Europe

The delegates from the European Pride Committees selected Warsaw as the host of EuroPride 2010. This makes it the first Eastern European EuroPride and sends a strong signal to a part of the continent where equal rights and acceptance of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders (GLBT) are still minimal. In previous years, the then Mayor of Warsaw and now President of Poland Lech Kaczynski tried to outlaw Pride in Warsaw and ordered police to break up the march. It was only with the help of foreign visitors and international media that the Polish Equality Foundation, which runs Warsaw Pride, was able to succeed in putting on a Pride event each year despite the government pressure. Lech Kaczynski has meanwhile been found guilty by the European Court of Human Rights for violating basic human rights such as the freedom of assembly with his actions against Warsaw Pride.

epoa wants to send a strong signal not just to Poland but all Eastern European countries where local Pride organisers are facing serious problems in organising pride events. ”Other cities such as Moscow and Riga have to learn that it is unacceptable in Europe to prohibit gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders from appearing in public. The discrimination, the bigotry and the right-wing and religious extremism against GLBT people in all of Eastern Europe has to stop! EuroPride Warsaw 2010 will be a symbol for all these countries.” says Robert Kastl, President of epoa. After years of opposition, the city of Warsaw has granted all the permits for Pride for the first time this year, and hopefully the city and the public will embrace and support EuroPride in the Polish capital in 2010 even more.

A sinful EuroPride in Stockholm in 2008

Stockholm will be host to EuroPride in 2008 from July 28 to August 3, 2008, and unveiled its EuroPride theme during the conference: “Swedish Sin, Breaking Borders”. Sofia Sjöö, chairwoman of EuroPride Stockholm: "When Stockholm Pride presents EuroPride 2008, we want to focus on international issues. To do so, we're playing a game of words with our theme 'Swedish Sin, Breaking Borders'. The expression 'Swedish sin' stems from the 60's equal rights movement, when it was used abroad to describe the attitudes toward sexual politics and liberation in Sweden, expressed in several films made at the time. Using this expression, we want to shed light on how the rights we have achieved in Sweden are actually considered 'sinful' in other parts of the world". In 2009 EuroPride will be held in Zurich, Switzerland.

Madrid hosted biggest EuroPride ever

EuroPride this year took place in Madrid, Spain, and turned out to be the biggest EuroPride ever. About 2.3 million people attended more than 300 EuroPride events over a ten day period in the Spanish capital to celebrate the enormous advances in GLBT rights in Spain over the past few years. According to independent media estimates, more than 200 000 visitors came from outside Madrid and from foreign countries to join in the festivities. The event received support from the city, regional and national government and the primary private sector sponsors Schweppes and Pink Fish which also ensured that the event was financially successful.

The board of epoa was elected at the conference and consists of Robert Kastl (President, Berlin, Germany), Vincent Lorijn (Secretary, Utrecht, Netherlands), Markus Manegold (Treasurer, Brunswick, Germany), Paul Turner (Outreach and Member Services Coordinator, Stockholm, Sweden), Juan Carlos Alonso Reguero (EuroPride Coordinator, Madrid, Spain), Andrea Maccarrone (Media and Internet Coordinator, Rome, Italy), Kurt Krickler (Human Rights Coordinator, Vienna, Austria) and Mark Chapman (Conference Coordinator, Zurich, Switzerland).

Contact: Robert Kastl, epoa President
mobile: +49-177-317 09 43, robert@europride.info

MEDIA INFORMATION - 19 September 2007
Stockholm Pride

INTERNATIONAL PRIDE CONFERENCE IN STOCKHOLM
21-23 September 2007

By tradition EPOA, European Pride Organisers Association, holds its annual meeting in the city that is hosting the next Europride. Pride festival organisers from the whole of Europe come to Stockholm for the weekend in order to, among other things, choose who will arrange Europride 2010. Delegates come from Spain, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland, Poland and several other european countries.

"That members of European organisations visit us in Stockholm is a perfect kickoff before the work really starts with the Europride festival," says Sofia Sjöö, chairperson for Stockholm Pride. "I look particularly forward towards meeting the guests from Warszaw Pride, that have received economic aid from Stockholm Pride in order to participate in the conference."

During the conference, Stockholm Pride will release the theme for EuroPride 2008 in Stockholm and also which artist has been awarded the commission to compose the year's official Pride Song.

"We have never been this early with the preparations for a festival," says Sofia Sjöö. "The organisation is fully prepared to arrange our biggest festival ever."

EPOAs aim is to choose what cities get to host EuroPride and it also serves as a forum for exchange of ideas between european Pride organisers. Zurich Pride will also present the ideas for Europride 2009. The conference is taking place between September 21 and 23. 2007.

Stockholm Pride is the largest Scandinavian Pride-festival and in 2008 Stockholm will host EuroPride for the second time. Europride 2008 is arranged between July 28 and August 3.

More information

Sofia Sjöö, chairperson Stockholm Pride, +46733-673 414

Anders Wallner, pressansvarig Stockholm Pride, +46702-154 332

Paul Wilde

11 August 1955 - 17 January 2007

Many of us worked with Paul Wilde of Wilde One Events Services, who died in his sleep on 17 January 2007. He was a founder of the Gay Business Association; was agent for Lilly Savage, Julian Clary, Divine and The Village People; and co-owner of South Central in Vauxhall. He was recently appointed Vice President of the National Outdoor Events Association.

Brighton Pride's PJ said in QX Magazines' obituary: "Paul started working for Pride over 12 years ago, and for the past decade he produced the event at Preston Park. A true champion of the charity, there is no question that Paul was instrumental in shaping Pride's landmark annual event to what it is today: the largest LGBT free park festival in Europe."

Pride London's Jason Pollock said: "Paul was a formidable presence. His larger than life personality preceded him when he entered a room and his natural authority had many a wayward market trader quaking in their boots. And the Language!"

Soho Pride's Kim Lucas said: "All those dance tents, stages, fencing, toilets, market stalls, etc, that everyone enjoyed to the highest standards have been down to him. And he always raised the standard."

Om Nama Ganasha Om

United Prides - LGBT community events around the UK

Mission of United Prides

To promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride in the UK
To increase networking and communication among Pride Organisations
To encourage diverse communities to hold and attend Pride Events, and
To act as a source of education.

What is a Pride Event?

A parade, march, rally, festival, arts festival, cultural activity or other event/activity organised for people identifying as lesbians and/or gay men and/or bisexuals and/or transgender persons and/or other emerging sexual identities which promotes equality and diversity with the aim of advancing education to eliminate discrimination and to develop an environment in favour of LGBT equality by providing information and/or advice and/or support.

What is a Pride Organisation?

An informal non-commercial group, a constituted group, a not-for-profit company, or a charity, one of whose major activities shall be to organise a Pride Event.

Membership criteria

A United Pride member can be an organisation which satisfies United Pride's definitions of a Pride Event and a Pride Organisation.

Are you organising a Pride Event?

If you are organising a not-for-profit LGBT community Pride event, you should consider joining United Prides. We arrange regular meetings, and the chance to network and support each other with ideas and expertise.

Would you like to join?

Please Email to request further information.

Next meeting

If you are not already on our email list and would like to be invited to the next meeting, please Email.

United Prides - November 2006

A meeting was held in Manchester in November 2007.

Minutes

The United Pride website is now up and running as a test version at:

http://www.unitedprides.com

Pride organisers are invited to log on and register, along with completing the details of your event.

At present your account will not be automatically activated, instead we will activate them the day after you sign up and send you an email to confirm your registration. Please keep your password in a safe place.

If you are able to facilitate a seminar over the next 3 months please contact:

Upton Clue
United Prides Co-ordinator
Tel 0161 228 1666

Some examples people have requested include:
Legal
Health & Safety
Event Production
Web Sites
Marketing & Promotions

United Prides - 30 June 2006

Many members of United Prides joined over 90 delegates from around Europe at a Conference 'Organising prides in a Hostile Environment, as part of EuroPride 2006 in London. An outcome is a 'toolkit' designed to help activists in Eastern Europe.

Details

United Prides - 5-6 November 2005

This successful United Prides meeting took place in Birmingham, and featured a useful summary and report from each of the Pride events represented.

Minutes

EPOA Conference in London - 15-18 September 2005

Over 33 delegates representing 16 Pride events throughout Europe met to discuss plans, share ideas and select Cities to host future events. London will host 2006, Madrid in 2007, and Stockholm in 2008.

Visit Britain brought 15 journalists from European LGBT magazines to enjoy London's thriving gay scene. We were treated to dinner on the Thames by Batteaux London, and a Champagne flight on the British Airways London Eye. Pride London is grateful to the clubs and restaurants who made the weekend so enjoyable.

The improved EPOA web site allows members to update their own details.
EPOA - European Pride Organisers Association

Alphabetical list of lesbian and gay prides in the UK

Please credit www.gaytoz.com if you reproduce this calendar

Aberdeen - Rainbow Fest
Saturday 5 July 2008

Barnsley Gay Pride
Sunday 13 September 2009

Bear Pride - London
22-25 May 2009

Belfast Pride
25 July - 1 August 2009

Birmingham Pride
23-24 May 2009

Black Pride - London
Saturday 15 August 2009

Blackpool Pride
15 May 2010

Bournemouth - Bourne Free
10-12 July 2009

Bradford Pride
Saturday 30 May 2009