Council flies rainbow flag in Witney ahead of Pride Day 2023

The first-ever Witney Pride March took place last year - 50 years after the first parade in London.

Scores of people turned out in all the colours of rainbow to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. 

Ahead of the event, Witney Pride director Beth Sherlock described it as a ‘momentous occasion’.

"Diversity and inclusion are vital to our society and we want to be visible for and on behalf of those who are not out yet for any reason,” she said.

"We are here, we are queer and we deserve equality and acceptance.”

This year the event promises music, dancing, food and drink with amazing new performers on stage at the Leys all afternoon, including a choir, party tunes, pop and soul and ukeleles. 

There will also be plenty of commercial and community stalls and the event will be broadcast live on Windrush Radio.

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West Oxfordshire District Council is flying the Pride flag at its Woodgreen offices on Saturday which is Pride Day.

Council leader Andy Graham said: "I am proud that the LGBT flag is flying here for Pride Day.

"It's an important day for the LGBT community, and supports our aim to be inclusive council, making sure everyone is actually feeling involved and part of this community."

Councillor Andrew Coles, chair of West Oxfordshire District Council, added: "It's really important that we look back at where we've come from so that we can focus on where we need to be.

"It was only up until the mid-1960s that being gay was considered a mental illness in the UK.

"Although we have come far in the last 25 or so years, considering things like civil partnerships, which then opened the door for marriage equality, we're still not there yet.

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"It's a testament to events like Pride that we have moved to a place where gay and lesbian people now have adoption rights and people can serve openly and be themselves in the armed forces, which is wonderful. 

“It’s great for the whole community to come together and demonstrate what an open, inclusive and accepting place West Oxfordshire is.”

The Parade will gather from 11.30am outside the Methodist Church on Witney High Street and leaves at noon with entertainment on the Leys from 12.30pm.