Pride Cymru (previously Cardiff Mardi Gras) is an
LGBT pride
LGBT pride (also known as gay pride or simply pride) is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to sham ...
festival held annually in
Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...
,
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
on the August bank holiday weekend.
Pride Cymru's Big Weekend is Wales's biggest celebration of equality and diversity. Over 3 days, Pride Cymru hosts over 50,000 people in the Welsh capital to raise awareness of equality and diversity and supporting the LGBT+ community. As part of the festival, there are various cabaret performances, funfair rides, live music, bars and food stalls, and a family area.
Etymology
Despite the Welsh language having the word for 'Pride' (Balchder), the English term is used instead to promote the event.
History
The first Cardiff Mardi Gras took place in
Bute Park
Bute Park and Arboretum () is a park in Cardiff, Wales. It comprises of landscaped gardens and parkland that once formed the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The park is named after the 3rd Marquess of Bute, whose family owned the castle.
History and ...
, Cardiff, in September 1999 as a response to an increase in hate crime in South Wales. Over 5,000 people attended this inaugural event. Cardiff Mardi Gras became a registered charity in 2010. Since 2012 the event has included a pride parade through Cardiff city centre.
In 2014, Cardiff Mardi Gras was renamed Pride Cymru, and has been operating under this name ever since. The Charity has 3 Patrons including Steps singer
Ian 'H' Watkins, Actress
Lu Corfield
Lucy "Lu" Corfield (born 1979 or 1980) is a Welsh actress, known for her roles as Freya Wilson (Doctors), Freya Wilson in ''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors'', Ruth in ''Last Tango in Halifax'' and Joyce Edevan in ''Clink (TV series), Clink''. ...
and Established Drag Performer Rob Keetch 'Dr Bev'. Previous Patrons include Russell T Davies, Charlotte Church and Nigel Owens.
Ever since its first event, the festival has continued to grow. It now attracts up to 50,000 people over the three days of the Pride Cymru Big Weekend Festival and is considered to be one of the fastest-growing LGBTI events in the UK.
Pride Cymru was relocated from Bute Park to City Hall Lawns in 2017, due to a booking clash with the Champions League final that year. However, the Big Weekend has continued to be held at the City Hall Lawns ever since. The event is currently due to continue until at least 2022.
Controversy: Cardiff Council
In 2016, there was a rumour started that
Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council, formally the County Council of the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Cyngor Sir Dinas a Sir Caerdydd) is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The principal area and its council were established ...
had dropped support for the event.
In an official statement, the Pride Cymru chair said she was told by the council that they'd "made a choice not to allow events during the summer of 2017". There was strong local opposition to the decision and the issue prompted a personal appeal from Sir
Ian McKellen
Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. His career spans seven decades, having performed in genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Regarded as a British cultural i ...
in which he compared the negative attitude toward the LGBT community with that seen in India and China on his travels.
Under intense pressure, Cardiff Council reversed its decision and awarded Pride Cymru a slot later in August to move it away from other major events taking place. The organisers would instead take over the running of the Council's
Big Weekend
BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend (R1BW) (previously known as One Big Weekend, for 2012 as Radio 1's Hackney Weekend, and for 2018 as BBC Music's Biggest Weekend) is a British music festival run by the BBC's radio station. It is held once a year, in a ...
open-air music festival.
References
{{Pride parades
1999 establishments in Wales
Recurring events established in 1999
August events
Annual events in Wales
Festivals in Cardiff
LGBT organisations in Wales
Charities based in Wales
Organisations based in Cardiff
LGBT events in Wales
LGBT festivals in the United Kingdom