VISITORS at the colourful Bradford Pride event in City Park this afternoon (Saturday) expressed their joy about attending an event where they could "be themselves".
Bradford Pride, a family-friendly event celebrating the LGBTQIA community, saw hundreds of people go along to watch over 30 acts like the Cheeky Girls, along with several drag kings and queens, take the stage. Visitors also enjoyed a large offering of stalls in a community marketplace.
Kay Thomas, a trustee of Equity Partnership, an organisation that partners Bradford Pride, said: "This event means quite a lot. It's a nice atmosphere for people to come and be themselves."
Andrea Allez, chair of the Equity Partnership, added: "Pride started out as a protest for people to be themselves.
"People should be accepted for who they are no matter what."
When asked what Bradford Pride meant to her, one young woman said: "We get to be who we are. There are a lot of other people like us."
"We want to have fun because it's a big event," said her friend, who was holding an umbrella to fend off the rain. "It would be nicer if it was sunny."
Another woman who was visiting one of the many stalls in City Park told the T&A: "It's good to show that we're proud of who we are."
Noah Roberts said: "It's important it's in the centre of Bradford because we're not hidden away.
"It's time for everybody to express themselves regardless of who we are."
Noah explained attending Bradford Pride is about supporting the many acts that perform on stage in the afternoon, including four drag kings.
"I'm a drag king who goes by the name Dan Glibitz. We have a new group called Bradford Drag Lads.
"Bradford has been identified as an up-and-coming area to be a drag king.
"And drag culture is becoming more known. People love drag culture but people are more used to seeing men dressed as women."
Linn Schiffmann, visiting from Dortmund, Germany, attended Bradford Pride as a poet-artist who is doing a project in collaboration with Dortmund's twin city of Leeds.
Dalton Harrison, of Leeds, explained that the project is about giving voices to Transgender individuals.
Dalton said: "Bradford Pride is about coming together to express our voices."
Sophie Phillips, a stallholder who was a Bradford Pride selling colourful clothing, said: "It's been a brilliant event. I love the atmosphere and it's an amazing experience.
Sophie, who is from Shipley, said: "I make and bring in clothes that are inclusive. I'm lucky to be able to do this and take part in this event."
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