Why Pride in Blackpool is more than a parade

Today marks the start of Pride weekend in Blackpool – a town that’s always been a little louder, brighter and prouder than most.

But beyond the rainbow flags and festivities lies something deeper – a radical history of working-class joy and queer defiance. For generations, Blackpool has offered a space to be yourself. It’s where many LGBTQ+ people first felt the thrill of freedom. Behind the sequins and stag dos is a tradition of belonging.

Blackpool has long been a haven for queer people seeking not just escape, but acceptance. A place to dance without fear, to live openly, to walk down the street without looking over your shoulder. For countless people, that has meant liberation – and that’s worth celebrating far beyond a single weekend.

Our town didn’t just welcome LGBTQ+ visitors. It gave them work, community, and the chance to build lives here. From Basil Newby’s legendary Funny Girls to the local queer artists preserving our hidden histories (see abingdonstudios.org.uk/were-still-here and queeramusements.com), Blackpool’s LGBTQ+ community is woven into the very fabric of this town.

That’s why Pride matters. Not just as a celebration, but as a statement – that everyone belongs and everyone deserves to be safe and seen.

I’ll be proud to march in Blackpool Pride parade again tomorrow, shoulder to shoulder with the LGBTQ+ community and allies. I encourage everyone to come and watch the fantastic parade along the Promenade between the Sandcastle and North Pier, where you’ll see the strength of this community in action. 

But Pride doesn’t end after this weekend. The fight for equality, for dignity, for safe spaces continues long after the glitter fades.

In an age when discrimination is finding new footholds and old prejudices are being repackaged, Blackpool must once again be a beacon. This town has never backed down from a fight for fairness – and we won’t start now.

Because in Blackpool, pride isn’t just a parade. It’s a promise – that we’ll keep showing up, speaking out, and standing together. Not just this weekend, but every day.