City lights up to mark what would have been 15th Leeds Pride event

Civic buildings across the city will be lit up in the colours of the rainbow and proudly flying the pride, bi and trans flags with the NHS also getting involved to celebrate too.

This year’s event was planned for today before organisers had to cancel it due to the coronavirus pandemic and they are encouraging people to celebrate at home with friends or family and share their own celebrations on social media.

It would have been the 15th Leeds Pride this year, but plans are already underway for Leeds Pride 2021.

"Leeds is an inclusive and diverse city and we will continue to work hard to ensure everyone feels welcome here. I urge anyone who is celebrating this weekend to do so safely and sensibly.”

Lord Mayor of Leeds, Coun Eileen Taylor added: "Leeds Pride is one of the real highlights in our city’s events calendar and it is a huge shame that this year’s had to be cancelled, although that was of course the right decision to make in these unprecedented circumstances. I hope to see the celebrations back next year, bigger and better than ever before.”

The NHS is also doing what it can to mark the weekend.

Following on from the UK's first Silver Pride event last week, Leeds Teaching Hospitals has become possibly the first hospital trust in the country to introduce Silver Pride Awareness Week; five zebra crossings at St James's Hospital and the LGI have had a Pride makeover and it is celebrating one year since the launch of NHS rainbow badges where 7000 staff made a pledge to promote inclusion and equality, learn about challenges facing LGBTQ+ people and to provide a non-judgemental listening ear.

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Laura Collins