What does Pride mean to you?

This is the question that Wales’ largest LGBT+ charity is asking communities across Wales.

Covid-19 and the necessary safety restrictions have meant Pride organisers across the UK are turning to alternative formats to continue their work. Pride Cymru is continuing with its mission to make sure that voices across the LGBT+ communities in Wales are heard. The charity is calling for people within Wales to share what Pride means to them in a 10-60-second-long video ahead of its digital Big Week (24-30 August).

With people’s videos, the charity wants to highlight why Pride matters in today’s society and how the need and the fight for inclusion is far from over. This year’s event focuses on the theme ‘Your Pride’. The change to a digital format this year allows the opportunity for all parts of the community to express themselves and have their messages heard on a broader scale.

Gian Molinu, Chair of Pride Cymru said: “For obvious reasons, Pride Cymru’s Big Weekend and the parade will not be taking place in physical form. With the upcoming digital Big Week event in August, we want to offer another way for LGBT+ communities across Wales to connect and share their experiences. It allows us to hear about the challenges faced by those in different parts of Wales. While we are not able to come together physically in Pride, we are still able to connect as one. This is our chance to listen, to learn and to support each other.”

“From the changes to the law affecting our trans community, through to challenges in accessing healthcare due to stigma, we continue to face barriers that exclude LGBT+ people from being themselves and living their fullest lives. Our community is diverse. This is why we want to highlight the reasons why Pride matters and why our community continues to fight for true inclusivity within society. By sharing these stories during our digital Big Week, we want to unite people from across Wales. These stories will play an important part in the programme of online events that we are putting together.”

Anyone, who would like to be featured in the video segment, can send their video messages to socials@pridecymru.com or direct message Pride Cymru on social media.

As Pride Cymru celebrates inclusion and accessibility for all, organisers have revealed that all of the online programmes will be close-captioned and include BSL interpreters. Throughout their Digital Big Week, Pride Cymru will host a range of events with its partners and supporters. Some of the confirmed events include a trans healthcare Q&A with Dr Sophie Quinney; an insight into the LGBT+ history and movement in Wales by Bangor University LGBTQ+ Network and Darryl Leeworthy.  The international film festival Iris Prize will also be featured, while Deaf Hub Wales will host a Wales Deaf LGBTQIA+ section.