Weymouth & Portland Pride

Weymouth & Portland Pride 2019

Below are reports and pics from Weymouths first local Pride 2019, and the history behind it.

A note about Pride events in Weymouth (posted here 25/07/2023)

It has been a dream of many locally for Weymouth to have a Pride event and this first became a reality in 2019. Organised by Jamie and his team from The Closet Bar, it took place in Radipole Park. It is unknown if it will return. See reports and pics below.

Pub Pride took place at a Wyke Regis Pub in Weymouth during 2023, and at The Waterloo Pub Weymouth during 2022. See our Dorset Pub Pride page here :- https://weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com/dorset-pub-prides.html

Chesil Youth Pride - a new Pride event took place in June 2023 at Weymouth College and again in 2024, with a super first for Weymouth - a Pride Parade along the Esplanade! See our Chesil Youth Pride page here:- https://weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com/chesil-youth-pride.html

Weymouth Craft Pride 2024 This NEW Pride proposed to run in 2024, did not run as organisers had not paid venue deposit. See our page here for info - weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com/weymouth-craft-pride.html

** Dorset enjoyed a record number of Pride events during 2023 - SIX in total! **
Dorset Pride info - https://weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com/pride-events.htm
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Weymouth & Portland Pride 2019

Held its first Pride event in 2019.

It is unknown yet if there will be another one.

If there is, we will put details here.

Wow! What a BRILLIANT first Weymouth & Portland Pride in 2019

A HUGE thank you to the Pride committee and to all the volunteers. Thanks also to all the sponsors and all the venues in town who have put out rainbow flags (Have you seen them all? Amazing walking around town!). Having been at the birth of W&P Pride, it has been great to see how it has grown into a brilliant event!

Below are our WGG photos from the weekend, plus links to media reports & more.

Check out our WGG news page for loads of news both before and after Pride ... see ... https://weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com/lgbt-news-weymouth-dorset-2019.html

Here is a good guide to the weekend in a Dorset Echo report ....
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17791817.weymouth-portland-pride-kicks-off-tomorrow---39-s-everything-need-know/

You can see a Youtube video of the weekend here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=9besPukSVkA&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3C43TA0FqCbGdUI5Dm_8UEnkOTCOV7gwcr35Im8mlxmhEnrQdpbX2KV64

All enquiries and more info check out The Weymouth & Portland Pride website here
- weymouth-pride.co.uk

Here are some photos from the Parade (on 26th) ..... (posted here 26/07/2019)

Below are photos from from the main festival day (27th) (posted here 28/07/209)

You will see our Weymouth Gay Group stall and the Dorset Mind one too. Along with many other photos of the brilliant day!

We have also retweeted many other photos of the day on our twitter see - Twitter https://twitter.com/WeymouthGayGrp

We will also post links here to media reports about the Pride weeekend when we have them, so check back later.

* Dorset Echo 29/07/2019 "First ever Pride celebration is held in Weymouth"
See - https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17800350.first-ever-pride-celebration-held-weymouth/
More Echo photos here - https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17802462.picture-gallery---weekend-events-weymouth-amp-portland-39-s-first-ever-pride/

Here are a few more pics from Sundays (28th) events
With the fantasitic Helen (left in second pic) from Space Youth Project!

Weymouth & Portland Pride 2019

Wow! What a brilliant weekend! Hope you did not miss it.

We, Weymouth Gay Group were at the birth of Weymouth Pride, almost 2 years ago at a meeting with Weymouth BID and others. So it's brilliant to see and be at the resulting fantastic weekend!

A HUGE thank you to the Pride committee and to all the volunteers. Thanks also to all the sponsors and all the venues in town who have put out rainbow flags (Have you seen them all? Amazing walking around town!). Having been at the birth of W&P Pride, it has been great to see how it has grown into such a super inclusive event!

Pride was not organised by Weymouth Gay Group, but we have been very supportive and at it's birth! (one of our guys was on its committee!) You can read more about how the local Pride came about here - https://weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com/weymouth--portland-pride-july.html and our news page has more - weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com/lgbt-news-weymouth--dorset.html including reports from The Dorset Echo and other media links.

See our local lgbt news page here - https://weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com/lgbt-news-weymouth-dorset-2019.html
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Below are older postings in advance of W&P Pride.
We have left them here as they may be of interest to you .... The history of how the local W&P Pride came about is reported below. (scroll down) Enjoyed Pride 2019? Why not join the committee for 2020!
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Weymouth & Portland Pride '19 Weekend 26 - 28th July

Please send all enquiries about Weymouth & Portland Pride to them via their website here - weymouth-pride.co.uk

Pride is not organised by Weymouth Gay Group, however we are very supportive and at it's birth!
You can read more about how the local Pride came about below, and our news page has more updates - weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com/lgbt-news-weymouth--dorset.html including reports from The Dorset Echo and other media links.

A festival to remember. Weymouth & Portland Pride committee said ...... (copy from their website posted here 30/01/2019)
"Our pride will be a colourful and truly inclusive programme of events designed to showcase the vibrant diversity of Weymouth and Portland, bringing together our local community and warmly welcoming others to an unforgettable celebration of equality. Our Goal is to promote the visibility of our LGBT+ community, by delivering inclusive safe and enjoyable annual pride celebrations in Weymouth and Portland."

Check out their website for more info - https://weymouth-pride.co.uk/
Check out the Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/weymouthpride/

Contact info -
email address [email protected]
postal address Closet Bar 38 Maiden Street, Weymouth, DT4 8BA
phone contact No +44 (0) 7984 609040
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Full line-up announced with just one month to go until Pride events kick off in Weymouth (posted here 28/06/2019)

Dorset Eye have a very good report about Pride here -
https://dorseteye.com/weymouth-portland-pride-release-full-weekend-line-up-to-celebrate-international-pride-month/

The Wessex FM report can be seen here -
https://www.wessexfm.com/news/dorset-news/2902454/weymouth--portland-pride-releases-its-full-line-up/

Below is from Dorset Echo 27/06/2019 - see the full story with photo here -
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17735103.just-one-month-to-go-until-pride-events-kick-off-in-weymouth/

After months of planning Weymouth & Portland Pride is only a month away, and the full weekend line up has been released to coincide with National Pride Month. The new community event, is being brought to the town through a collaboration between The Closet and Weymouth College with support from an extended committee of dedicated LGBT and wider community volunteers. The Dorset Echo is also backing the event.

Jamie Crage, chairman of Pride said: “Bringing Pride to Weymouth for the first time in 2019 is very significant. 50 years ago, the first Pride Parade was held in New York to raise awareness of the challenges of acceptance the LGBTQ+ community were experiencing at the time. Thankfully the world is a different place now, however, there’s still work to do and we would like to show support and recognise that some minority group still face these challenges on a daily basis.
"Weymouth and Portland Pride is all about inclusivity, not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for everyone. It’s very humbling to know that this event will be supporting those groups and making a difference to how they are perceived and how they feel”

Julia Cohen, head of external partnerships at Weymouth College said: “Weymouth College is truly honoured to have been asked to support this event; our staff and students are involved, and we feel this is going to be an amazing event for the town.” Weymouth & Portland Pride has recently secured support from multi-national company Schneider Electric, which will be the event’s platinum wristband sponsor. ”The inaugural #PrideByTheSeaside event will be held over the weekend of July 26-28 at Radipole Park.

Pride weekend will start with a colourful walking parade along Radipole Park Drive at 1pm. The Parade will include live music from Wessex FM, Fancy Dress Competitions and the official 50M Pride Rainbow Flag that is being transported across the country especially for #PrideByTheSeaside. The Open Air Cinema hosted by Children’s Storyteller Mama G starts at 3pm and will show three family films, Beauty & the Beast, The Greatest Showman & Grease. Other attractions include Weymouth Beach Punch & Judy, Face Painting, glitter, hot dogs, doughnuts, popcorn and candy floss.

On Saturday, Radipole Park gates will open at 11am with the first DJ act starting at 12pm. The party atmosphere will continue throughout the day and into the evening, with music performances including headliner Aston Merrygold from JLS, X Factor’s Misunderstood, All Togther Now’s The Sundaes, Booty Luv & Big Brovaz and Abba Revival, plus cabaret acts, silent disco, children’s fun fair, bungee trampolines, trade & charity stalls, Bella Ceramics potter’s wheel & host of delicious food and drink.

The fun begins again on Sunday at 12pm with another day of musical entertainment and performances from tribute artists Lady Gaga and Best of the Boy Bands. Local bands & DJs including Weymouth College Students, The Leggomen, Stagecoach Theatre Company and Weymouth’s Summer Panto - Pirates of the Pavilion.
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Weymouth & Portland to hold first LGBT+ Pride event in summer 2019
(Posted here 25/02/2019)
From Dorset Echo - see the story here with photos - https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17455893.weymouth-portland-to-hold-first-lgbt-pride-event-in-summer-2019/

Get ready for a summer like no other in Weymouth & Portland - 2019 will see the borough's first ever LGBT+ Pride Celebration. Thousands of visitors are expected to witness history in the making during the three day extravaganza, from July 26-28.

A highlight of the weekend will be a carnival parade along Weymouth seafront, and organisers say they want to hear from anyone in the community who would like to get involved - whether they're performers, dance clubs, fitness groups, charities, businesses or schools.

Jamie Crage, who is owner of The Closet nightclub and chair of Weymouth & Portland Pride Committee, said the event will be a celebration of equality and diversity for the entire community. "The committee and I are working very hard to bring Weymouth and Portland its first ever Pride", he said. "We are super excited to announce our plans with everyone and hope to put Weymouth on the map as an up-and-coming location for the LGBT+ community. "I believe we should celebrate everything the area has to offer, and the three day Pride event promises to do just that."

Early plans revealed by organisers hint at a rainbow of performance, theatre, cabaret, music, dancing and food - and fireworks - with a main arena being created at Radipole Gardens. At the gardens will be a festival stage, with bands and celebrity headline acts due to be announced soon, the committee said.

Here is the lineup for the first ever Weymouth & Portland LGBT+ Pride Celebration:

Friday July 26
An open air cinema night will mark the start of Pride weekend, supported by the Dorset Echo.

Saturday July 27
Grand opening ceremony at Weymouth College, with live performances from students and special guests.
Carnival parade from Weymouth College to the Pavilion along the seafront.
The Pride Festival gates will open at 12pm, Radipole Park, for a day and evening of live music and entertainment.
Evening fireworks to be held on Weymouth beach.

Sunday July 28
Radipole Park will host another day of music, family entertainment, food stalls, bars and more.

For more information or to get involved visit weymouth-pride.co.uk
There is also an official Facebook page, @WeymouthPride, Twitter account, @PrideWeymouth and an Instagram page, PrideByTheSeaside

From Dorset Echo - see the story here with photos - https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17455893.weymouth-portland-to-hold-first-lgbt-pride-event-in-summer-2019/
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From Weymouth & Portland Pride via twitter
(28/02/2019 updated 09/03/2019)

Parade
Entries are officially open for our very first #Pride #Parade #Weymouth #Beach #PrideByTheSeaSide - Sat 27th July now is your chance to #Shine!
Please share & help us make this a really special event!!
Link will take you to the parade entry form! https://weymouth-pride.co.uk/enter-the-parade/ …

Stalls
Also available now from Pride are "applications of interest" for commercial and Charity stalls.Use the contact page on the Pride website to request more info, which must be submitted soon (check deadline with Pride).
www.weymouth-pride.co.uk

Weymouth & Portland Pride 2019 - Public meeting news (posted here 11/9/2018 updated 13/10/2018)

Following the very successful first open public meeting (on 10th Oct), we can report the following ....

Over 40 enthusiastic people attended on the night, and a Pride committee was elected (see below).
Special thanks to Stuart (from Weymouth Gay Group) for facilitating the meeting, and to Waverley Community Hub for hosting.

Below a couple of pics from the night ...

Key local people elected on the night to run your Pride committee were -

Chairperson -                  Jamie Crage
Vice Chair -                     Charity Gardiner
Secretary -                      Alan Mercel-Sanca
Treasurer -               tbc
Health & Safety -            Claudia Moore & Ryan Hope
PR / Marketing -             Venetia Randle
Business commercial -   Julia and Claudia Moore
Parade -                          Stuart D & Sandra West
Festival -                         Venetia Randle & Sandra West.

We will post more info here once confirmed / approved. So stay tuned!
If you have comments or ideas for OUR LOCAL PRIDE event in 2019 we are sure all of the above will be keen to hear from you. Plus, please don't forget events like this rely on lots of volunteers, so if you can help out on the day and particularly before so, please let the guys above know!
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Weymouth will host a Pride event in 2019 (posted here 14/10/2019)

From Dorset Echo see www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/16979875.weymouth-will-host-a-pride-event-in-2019/?ref=mr&lp=2

A public meeting was held at The Waverley Community Hub to discuss organising a Pride event in the town.
At the meeting it was confirmed that it would take place on either Saturday, July 27 or Sunday, July 28, 2019. The proposed area for the event is the Nothe Gardens. Pride events celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) culture and pride.

Jamie Crage, owner of The Closet was elected as the chairman of the Weymouth Pride committee.
He said: “It’s a great honour to be chosen to chair this event and I’m looking forward to working with the elected committee to bring this event to reality. The plans are to hold a parade and festival which will celebrate the diversity and recognise equality in the borough. “I feel it’s very important for Weymouth and Portland to celebrate and recognise equality and diversity and a Pride event is a great way to do this.

“Pride events happen in many towns now and many feel Weymouth and Portland shouldn’t be left out. People in Weymouth and Portland and across the nation still live in fear for just being themselves, the attitudes and behaviour towards the LGBT community from some can cause isolation and lack of support can be detrimental.”
The meeting was attended by a number of enthusiastic groups, local councillors and supportive businesses.

Weymouth Gay Group helped to organise the meeting and a spokesman for the group said: “It was wonderful to see such an enthusiastic group of people at this meeting, including very supportive local business people, councillors, and non-LGBT people. Several of whom have been elected onto the Pride committee which helps to reflect just how an inclusive event our Pride will be.

“Having a Weymouth and Portland Pride event has been a dream for many years.

“Several Weymouth Gay Group members will be taking an active role, and it’s not too late for anyone who missed the meeting to come on board with help and support. There will be more public meetings in the future and more information will be on the Weymouth Gay Group website, and the “Weymouth Pride” page on Facebook in due course.”

See Dorset Echo for photos and full story - https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/16979875.weymouth-will-host-a-pride-event-in-2019/?ref=mr&lp=2

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This event should be on here - Wessex FM events listings. www.wessexfm.com/listings/whatson/

It was also in DISPATCH free newspaper, did you see it?

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Weymouth Pride 2019 - latest news! (posted here 17/9/2018, updated 22/9/2018)

Weymouth Pride 2019 will be on Sat JULY 27th 2019! Open public meeting is on October 10th.

Open Public meeting Wed October 10th.

Venue- The Waverley Community Hub,121 Abbotsbury Road. Weymouth, Dorset DT4 0JX.
From 19:00 until 22:00 This event is also posted on Facebook events.

Following a meeting today (17th Sept), we can now disclose that our Weymouth Pride is getting closer to happening! The key date is Sat JULY 27th 2019.

Their is an open public meeting on Wed Oct 10th, for anyone to attend who is interested. An organising committee will be established. Stay tuned for details, or attend WGG twice weekly pub meet ups for more info...

Today's meeting was part of the regular Dorset LGBT Equality Network and Weymouth BID meet ups. Attended by key local LGBT people representing a number of different local LGBT+ groups. The meeting was also attended by a councillor and a local business person.

Scroll down for past stories about how the plans for Weymouth Pride have come about....

Should Weymouth have a Pride event in 2019?
(posted here 26/7/2018 updated 28/7/2018, updated again 01/9/2018)

As the annual Pride season is drawing to a close, many members of the local LGBT community are focusing on the possibility of a Weymouth Pride in 2019. Discussions about this are ongoing, and a recent facebook page (thanks to Weymouth Gay Group guy Mike) generated over 255 responses in 24 hours! Showing that their is a huge amount of support for this idea.

Broken down the numbers were -
Like = 177
Love = 44
Angry = 2
Shock = 1
Sad = 1

The photo on right is from Weymouth Carnival a few years ago when The Closet Bar had the HUGE rainbow flag as part of their float. Closet Bar is one of many local bussines that have expressed an interest in a Weymouth Pride, and a willingness to help make it happen.

A meeting (organised by Alan at The Dorset LGBT Equality Network) will be taking place in Weymouth for all those interested very soon. If you have the time and skills to help make a Weymouth Pride happen, and wish to attend, please email Alan with out delay, at - [email protected] or join Weymouth Gay Group at our regular pub meet ups.

Stay tuned for more info on this exciting idea! We need your views and support! If you can not attend our pub meet ups in Weymouth and you wish to be actively involved, or have ideas and comments, please email us [email protected]

Below is our report about this, first posted here 26th June 2018. It has already been posted on Dorset Eye, and disscussed on our local LGBT Radio Show (AIR radio 107.2FM Tuesdays 9-10pm), and gained more support at the recent Dorchester Love Parade.

Pride in Weymouth!
Should Weymouth have a Pride type event in 2019? (posted here 26/7/2018)

Your views and support are being requested following a recent meeting with key local LGBT people and the Weymouth BID.

It would require not only the local LGBT community to be active in supporting this idea, but also local businesses, hence the BID’s potential involvement. BID is a Business Improvement District scheme, a business-led initiative improving the local trading environment. As well as the BID and Weymouth Gay Group, the Dorset LGBT Equality Network, Closet Bar, a local councillor and a representative of the local transgender community were present.

Pride events happen in many towns now, and many feel Weymouth must not be left out! As well as showing how inclusive a town and its business are, they also can bring in revenue and publicity for the area. Many LGBT people live in or visit the Weymouth area.

Having a high profile local event helps to highlight the LGBT community and reach out to those who may benefit from the many LGBT support and social groups locally.

Alan from The Dorset LGBT Network said “A Pride event also has year-round benefit for the local LGBT community in highlighting community supportive information, such as signposting, raising community visibility, information resources to assist community members when encountering prejudice, and helping the local authority and public services represent our LGBT community’s voice and needs robustly & clearly”

More news about this exciting idea over the coming months as this suggestion develops. If you are a local business interested in support this, please contact Claudia at the BID. Individuals and LGBT community groups can resister their comments and interest through Weymouth Gay Group via email. If you would like to attend a future meeting about this exciting idea, please let us know!

https://weymouthgaygroup.weebly.com [email protected]
[email protected]
http://lgbtdorsetequality.network/ [email protected]
www.closetweymouth.co.uk