Everything you need to know about Exeter Pride (this Saturday!)

Exeter Pride is back on 11 May! Here, comms co-ordinator Russell Back chats about this year’s amazing line-up, Exeter’s thriving community, and why Pride is needed now now more than ever.

Hello Russell! For anyone that’s not been to Exeter Pride before, can you give a taste of what to expect and what makes it so special? Exeter Pride is one of the longest-running Prides in the South West. This year we are celebrating 15 years of protest and celebration in the heart of our queer and inclusive city with a gigantic protest march through the city centre from Sidwell Street, High Street and Queen Street (12-1), a bustling alcohol-free picnic space and marketplace full of local traders and entertainment in Northernhay Gardens and a wondrous world of music, dance, arts, workshops, crafts, children and teen zones and much more at Exeter Phoenix (2-6pm), including this year’s drag competition! There’s banner-making, chillout, community art creation and more at central venues Exeter Library and RAMM too. 

Can you talk us through a few highlights of the day? It wouldn’t be Exeter Pride without a stack of drag acts! We’ve got all your favourite performers including Ginnie Da Fuq, Cleo Toris and Razzle B. Dazzled as well as our head-liner Bristol based Ernest the Drag King! We are also hosting another drag competition, with judges Alex Ambiguous and Ernest so if you’ve got the passion, and the talent, sign up via https://linktr.ee/exeterpride. There’s also film screenings and exhibitions about the history of Exeter Pride and Section 28, as well as fab activities for all ages including origami, drag story time, clothes swaps and a self-love portrait club!

What are the joys of putting together this event? The overwhelming positivity and generosity of Exeter public, local businesses, our sponsors and the 150+ volunteers continually provides us with joy. Meeting those who’ve never missed an Exeter Pride before to those for whom 2024 will be their very first makes this event a privilege to be a part of. The experience, wit and passion of our committee has led to the return of Exeter Pride on a scale none of us imagined a few months ago. And then there’s the fundraisers, the amazing raffle prizes, the new merch including limited run t-shirts and our very special ‘Alan Bear’ (on sale in our online shop) and our incredible rebrand – all made possible because of our volunteers!

What are the challenges? Choosing the winning name of our Pride Beer competition was very tricky! Make sure you get to The Turk’s Head to buy a pint of Thirst Trap, brewed by the amazing Tilly in our local microbrewery. But, beyond beer, the LGBT+ community faces a range of challenges, particularly around the rights of our trans and non-binary community members. There is no Pride without trans and non-binary people, all of whom deserve a life free from hate, full of love and care and support. Now, more than ever, we need to stand in solidarity and fight against the waves of transphobic rhetoric being created in the UK in 2024. LGBT+ rights have been won throughout history not through passive participation and patience but through active protest. Pride is protest. We rise to every challenge.

As well as attending Exeter Pride, how else can people support the local LGBTQ+ community? Take time to understand the challenges (past and present) that LGBT+ people face. Support charities like Exeter Pride by volunteering, donating or simply liking and sharing our social media content. This way, we can work together to educate the wider community of Exeter, Devon and beyond to create a world where everyone is free to live authentically and enjoy equal rights and opportunities. Until this is achieved, Pride will remain a protest as well as a party!

You can watch some of the special memories of Exeter Pride from previous years at the film screening of 15 years of Exeter Pride on 11 May at 3.30pm, at Exeter Phoenix. For full details on the event, go to: www.exeterpride.co.uk/pride-day or follow on social; Instagram: @exeterpride