Channel Islands Pride flies the flag for everyone

Wednesday 05 September 2018

Being stronger, together, is the theme of this year’s Channel Islands Pride, which is being held in St Peter Port on Saturday, 8 September.

Liberate, the organisers of the event, want to show everyone that they are welcome, and stronger together.

To promote this all-inclusive message, 35 different flags representing the Channel Islands, and the diverse range of sexual and gender identities that exist within them, have been hoisted on the roundabout mast in town to celebrate. This colourful display of identity, diversity and community will remain in place until the Pride celebrations have taken place.

Ellie Jones, Liberate’s Vice Chairperson, said: "we are grateful to have been given this opportunity to share our all-inclusive message in such a prominent place. Flags represent an innate part of people’s identities whether that it where they are from or who they are. They send a powerful visible message that people are accepted and welcomed in Guernsey regardless of how they identify. And they encourage people to be proud of who they are. 

"Although Pride is born of a need to fight for equality for the LGBTQ community, it is truly an event for all. This year we have added a youth and family zone and are looking forward to welcoming people from every sexuality and gender identity for a day filled with music, colour and fun for all ages."

Colin Macleod, CEO of The Channel Islands Co-operative Society, said: “We are proud to once again be supporters and sponsors of the Channel Islands Pride Parade. As a local retailer our vision is to make a real difference to the communities we serve, we see all people in our communities as equal.

"We celebrate not only the diversity of our communities but what brings us together. Events such as Pride are incredibly important as it promotes awareness of the inequalities faced by the LGBTQ community and provides a safe haven for people to be who they really are. As friends of Liberate, we encourage you to join us this year to celebrate all we have achieved and what we can achieve together.”

Pride is a free public event - the parade which starts from Candie Gardens at 16:00 is open to anyone that wishes to join in the fun and support the LGBTQ community in their celebrations. The festival style event that follows in Market Square, where the parade ends, is also free and open to all.

The first Pride in Guernsey two years ago saw over 2,500 people celebrating diversity and inclusion and the organisers are hoping that 2018 will be just as successful, with the new #strongertogether theme encouraging even more people to attend.