Thousands attend city's Pride celebrations

Norwich's annual Pride event has had its coming of age after 18 years of LGBTQIA+ celebrations.

Organisers had hoped to bring 20,000 people into the city centre on Saturday with a march, entertainment across five stages, street entertainment and stalls and performances into the evening.

The march left City Hall at 13:00 BST before finishing at Chapelfield Gardens where the Marsha P Johnson main stage was headlined by performer Alexa Vox.

Drag king Crip Ladywood said: "I'm here to cheerlead, sing and have a camp old time."

In the weeks leading up to the event Reform UK, which now runs Norfolk County Council, stopped flying the Pride flag at County Hall and said it prohibited political messaging, events and displays – including Pride – at the county's 47 libraries.

On 9 July, protesters against the policy gathered outside the Forum, home to Norwich Millennium Library.

Previously in a statement the council said: "Council services are expected to remain politically neutral. This long-standing principle remains unchanged."

Hours after the event, organisers reacted to news that one woman had been killed and 29 injured after a van was driven into a crowd at a Berlin Pride event on Saturday.

Organisers said: "Our hearts break for everyone in Berlin and for the LGBTQIA+ community around the world.

"Pride has always been built on unity, resilience and the belief that everyone deserves to live openly, safely and without fear.

"We must not allow those who seek to spread hatred, division or fear to drive us apart or turn communities against one another."

More on Pride in Norfolk:

• Farage stands by Reform stance amid Pride protests
• Why has council's stance over Pride in libraries led to protests?
• Reform criticised for ban on Pride at libraries

Manny and Anthony, who live in Norwich, come to Pride every year.

However, Anthony said it was more important this year due to the "climate we are in now".

He said: "It's a bit scary but I feel like any city in the country we can do something to change it and make a difference.

"It's really present today – the turnout is great, it makes you feel good."

The pair watched the march through the city and wanted to support local vendors.

Manny said: "Also don't forget, it looks like a big party and everyone is welcome to participate but Pride is still a protest.

"We are still fighting for our rights... at any given time we can get them taken away from us. We have to keep fighting for our rights and support the LGBTQ+ community as well."

Visiting from Birmingham, Ladywood was also part of the schedule, giving a talk on queer disabled power and joy and performing on the main stage.

They said: "As someone who lived through Section 28 when it came through, it's kind of heartbreaking to feel some of that coming back in again.

"Events like this is how we counteract that and fight back against it."

Section 28 was a law that existed from 1988 to 2003 which stopped councils and schools "promoting the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

Reacting to Reform UK's decision to stop flying the Pride flag at County Hall, they said: "A lot of it is councils saying because pride has always been a protest of us standing up for our rights saying we are here and reminding ourselves of why it's important to come together we shouldn't be supported anymore and we shouldn't be supporting protester groups and it's heartbreaking."

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