'Love will always be stronger than hate': Terry George reflects on Leeds Pride's remarkable 20-year journey
‘Leeds has always been a city with a big heart’
As Leeds Pride celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend, the Viaduct Showbar will be buzzing with celebration.
The drag cabaret bar has stood proudly in the Freedom Quarter, at the heart of Leeds’ LGBTQ+ scene, since 2005, making it just older than Leeds Pride itself.
Over the years, Viaduct Showbar’s co-founder Terry George has been “proud” to watch the festival grow from a small community event to one of the biggest celebrations in the city’s calendar.
“In the early days, it was very much about creating a safe space for our own community, and protesting against injustices,” Terry said.
“Now it's become a city-wide celebration that attracts tens of thousands of people, with businesses, charities, community groups and families all standing alongside us. That says a lot about how attitudes have changed.
“What I love is that, despite getting bigger every year, it has never lost its heart. It's still driven by the community, and there's still that feeling that everybody belongs. You see young people attending their first Pride alongside people who've been fighting for equality for decades, and that's really special.”
In the 21st century, major change has been made, including the legalisation of gay marriage, the equalisation of IVF access for lesbian couples, and the right for transgender individuals to change their legal sex.
Yet, as Terry noted that history shows “progress isn’t always a straight line”, he believes that Pride still has an important political purpose.
He said: “We're seeing increasing homophobia and division in some places, especially against our trans siblings, which makes events like Leeds Pride more vital than ever.
“For me, Pride is about joy, visibility and community. It's about filling the city with colour and reminding people that being LGBTQ+ is something to celebrate, not something to hide. I hope everyone comes along and helps make our 20th anniversary the most memorable Pride Leeds has ever seen.”
This year, Leeds Pride has become a two-day festival for the first time with tens of thousands of people expected to attend.
As pride events across the world have been made possible by the decades of protest from older generations of the LGBTQ+ community, Terry now hopes Leeds locals use this weekend to continue to advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Pride has never just been a party,” the bar owner said.
“Yes, it's a celebration, and it should be. We should celebrate who we are and how far we've come. But Pride is also about visibility, education and reminding people why those celebrations exist in the first place. There’s more to do, and if we get complacent, we risk going backwards.
“When thousands of people march through Leeds together, that’s such a powerful statement. They're sending a positive message. They're saying that it's okay to be LGBTQ+, that everyone deserves respect, and that our city is stronger because of our diversity.”
He believes that the representation Pride provides can “genuinely change” the life of someone struggling with their identity.
Viaduct Showbar provides an inclusive and safe space for LGBTQ+ people to build confidence and community.
Just as Pride still has relevance in the modern age, Terry believes that places like Viaduct Showbar are still “incredibly important” for the LGBTQ+ community.
“Thankfully, Leeds has become much more inclusive, and that's fantastic. More people now feel comfortable socialising across the whole city, which is exactly the progress we wanted to see,” Terry said.
“But LGBTQ+ venues still have a unique role. They're places where people know they'll be understood, welcomed and celebrated. For someone who's just coming out, or who's new to the city, walking into one of those venues can be the first time they've truly felt they belong.”
In years to come, Terry hopes younger generations can grow in a world where being LGBTQ+ is “completely ordinary” and discrimination is always challenged.
As Leeds Pride continues to grow, he wants the festival to continue to work to make this future possible.
“Every flag that's waved, every conversation that's started and every person who's proud to be themselves helps move us forward.
“Leeds has always been a city with a big heart. My hope is that Pride continues to reflect that, bringing people together, celebrating our differences and reminding everyone that love, kindness and community will always be stronger than hate.”