Small Welsh town to hold first ever Pride event
The coastal town of Llantwit Major is feeling the love.
By Will Stroude
A small coastal town in Wales is set to host its first ever Pride event.
Llantwit Major, which has a population of less than 10,000 and sits on the southern coast of Wales around 25 miles from Cardiff, will become the place in the Vale of Glamorgan to put on an LGBT Pride event on 1 September.
MajorPride will “celebrate the diversity of the community” with a classic car show and coffee morning, live music, a BBQ and a drag performance at one of the Llanwit Major’s local pubs.
Organiser Rhodri Ellis Owen told BBC News: “The feedback I’ve had throughout the planning of this has been completely positive, from the businesses to local musicians who want be a part of it, to the church who want to host events – and the rugby club, for example.
All these different parts of the community which maybe you wouildn’t think would go together; somehow they’ve bonded through this Pride event.”
He went on: “I think it’s a way for the young generation to think ‘Do you know what, things are possible in this gtown, and I don’t have to pretend to be someone else’.”
“Whether you’re a small town boy or a small town girl, my argument is you don’t actually need to leave that small town anymore to be you.”
🌈 Why is this small town hosting a Pride event?
Full story: https://t.co/TCIflpewh8 pic.twitter.com/nTaPfDmbdP
— BBC Wales News (@BBCWalesNews) August 12, 2018
Meanwhile, Derrick Barry, Courtney Act, Sonique and Gabrielle are amongst this year’s acts who will be performing at Pride Cymru’s Big Weekend in nearby Cardiff over the August Bank Holiday weekend (24-26 August).
On Saturday 25 August, a parade will take place around the streets of Cardiff, which will see 10,000 people walk the mile-long route in the city centre.
The theme for this year’s event is #ProudToBeMe. The campaign aims to encourage members of the LGBT+ community and beyond to use their voice and be proud of their identity.