Cumbria Pride support the LGBT+ community in Cumbria. Our mission is to increase LGBT+ visibility with an aim of raising awareness and improving community understanding!

 

Cumbria Pride originally started in 2009 to bring ‘Pride’ to Cumbria. The aim was to show that Pride is not just something for big cities but also for rural areas and the small towns too. An event was held at the University of Cumbria campus in Carlisle, with just around 50 invited guests attending. We have since evolved and grown into the organisation we are today.

 

Now we hold a main Pride event every year, to ensure that the LGBT+ community of Cumbria and its supporters are recognised, celebrated and supported. We celebrated our 10th year with an event in Carlisle Castle with over 5000 in attendance. Sadly in 2020 we were unable to hold a physical event due to covid, so we devised a virtual project throughout the year instead.

 

Our team of volunteers work all year round, with the support of our local businesses and organisations (especially our sponsors), arranging and attending activities, social events, information sharing days, offering support, and delivering training … as well as (of course!) holding our main Pride Event!

 

It has always been our aim to keep our main event completely free of charge. As a committee we feel this is important for our community, so that the positive messages of inclusion can reach as many people as possible. ​Whilst society has come a long way from the Stonewall riots which is how ‘Pride’ originally all began, still today some members of the LGBT+ community suffer discrimination, exclusion and many are afraid just to be who they are. 

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Often Pride events are viewed as just a ‘party’, and yes partly it is a celebration of strength and unity, BUT it is also a vitally important event which offers support to LGBT+ youngsters, teens, adults, seniors, their families, their friends, employers, and so on ... all within a safe place where everyone can feel welcomed, included and able to be who they are. 

 

By contributing to the internationally recognised Pride movement, Cumbria Pride takes a positive stance against discrimination, delivering inclusive events and activities which promote cohesion and celebrate diversity.

 

Our Pride events stand for inclusivity, visibility, having fun, and celebrating love and equality rather than fighting for it!