The rainbow flag will be carried through the streets on September 4.
Ever a highlight of Glasgow’s summer plans, the huge Mardi Gla Pride parade had to go virtual last year, owing to public health concerns over holding the event in the midst of a pandemic. However, with the vaccination total rising daily and an exit out of lockdown unveiled, things are looking rosier for the Pride 2021 celebrations – and now, Mardi Gla Pride is back for this year’s parade, with the city’s biggest LGBTQ+ celebration taking place on September 4.
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Organisers said they will be working closely with partners from Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland and Public Health to ensure that the rainbow flag will be carried through the streets in a vibrant display of the continuing fight for equality. Glasgow’s Pride Mardi Gla was cancelled last year, which was an additional blow for the city’s LGBT+ communities as 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of Pride marches, however a special online Global Pride took place which had 57 million viewers worldwide.
Mardi Gla 2021 will see LGBT+ communities of Glasgow join together for a Pride March starting from Festival Park in Cessnock and finishing at George Square. Glasgow’s Pride Mardi Gla has implemented strict covid mitigations which include requiring participants to have taken a lateral flow test the day before or morning of Pride as part of the wider action to reduce the current increase in positive tests in Glasgow.
Announcing the news on the final day of Pride Month, Daniel Syme, chairman of the organising committee, said: “Covid has been so tough for everyone, but particularly the LGBT+ communities as we have seen a large increase in hate crimes in Scotland and also the rise of brutality and removal of legal rights across Eastern Europe.
“It is no surprise that LGBT communities have seen some of the sharpest rises in mental health decline and tragically suicides, it is therefore right that we hold a march to show people they are not alone and also give our allies the chance to march with us and show support for equality.”
The last march was held in 2019 when almost 10,000 marchers walked from Kelvingrove Park to George Square. With most pride events such as parades and marches cancelled again this year, such as Bristol and Liverpool, Glasgow will be joining UK cities like Manchester and London in the pride celebrations, ensuring that there will be three weekends in a row to fly the rainbow flag.
A spokesman for Pride Mardi Gla added that pride marches such as Mardi Gla Pride parade are “relevant as a main tool for LGBTQ communities to win hearts and minds”, which groups have been unable to do over the past 16 months due to Covid-19. Organisers of the march are also asking supporting businesses in Glasgow to fly the Pride Flag this weekend to show support for LGBT+ staff and customers.
For more information on the parade head to the website here.