BOLTON Pride attracts thousands of people to it’s event each year, with 2020’s annual event marking the sixth time the festival has been held.

The festival allows people from across the LGBT community to embrace their identities and celebrate who they are in safe and fun environment.

The festival director, James Edgington, said that Bolton Pride was set up in response to growing hate crime statistics across Britain- with homophobic hate crime in particular increasing in the years before its first outing in 2015.

The volunteer-run festival is currently preparing for this year and promises another weekend of vibrant celebrations. Bolton Pride is something that Mr Edgington calls “necessary”, as the number of people that turn out shows how much it means to so many.

He said: “Bolton Pride is run voluntarily and the festival organised by myself, Liz Pycroft and Beth Warriner along with a group of volunteer supporters. The festival has grown over five years which has been incredible considering the amount of negativity we received and the community has celebrated this with us year on year, making it a fantastic weekend festival in Bolton for all.

“The amount of young people that attend proves that Bolton Pride is a necessary and much needed festival creating a safe space for everyone to attend and celebrate their own diversity while campaigning against hate crime. “

2020 is set to mark the 50th anniversary of seminal pride marches in the United States. In the year after the Stonewall riots, which blew open the door towards equality, events that serve as forerunners to pride took place in several American cities.

A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure Pride reaches everybody it possibly can. This includes partnerships and deals to help broaden the festival’s audience.

Mr Edgington added: “I co-founded the organisation to build a network of LGBT+ allies and develop a community that grows together to support each other. There is a great partnership within Bolton now and some brilliant community projects that should be celebrated and so we also started the Bolton Pride Diversity Awards which has been received brilliantly.

“We are have developed a great partnership with Bolton Wanderers Community Trust and work together on hate crime awareness projects which is something we see Bolton Pride developing further throughout the years, getting the message of hate crime into schools and enhancing the educational offer about the LGBT+ community. “

For more information on Bolton Pride and to keep up to date with their latest news, visit: boltonpride.co.uk.