'Pride Inside' online LGBTI+ festival line-up announced

Amnesty International, UK Black Pride, ParaPride, Gendered Intelligence and Stonewall are bringing Pride celebrations online this year

• When? Sunday 28 June – Friday 10 July 2020
• Where? https://prideinside.uk/
• Pride Inside logos can be downloaded here

‘It's a tough time for a lot of people at the moment. Pride is as important and as relevant as ever’ – Comedian Rosie Jones

Amnesty International, UK Black Pride, ParaPride, Gendered Intelligence and Stonewall are excited to reveal the line-up for Pride Inside – a free online festival of Pride celebrations.

Pride Inside - which will take place from 28 June 2020 – 10 July 2020 - will be jam-packed with music performances, comedy gigs, workshops, readings, content and panel discussions featuring an exciting list of artists including Ana Matronic, Layton Williams, Vick Hope, Rosie Jones, Dr Ranj, Jacob V Joyce, Marika Hackman, Toya Delazy, Arlo Parks, L Devine, Aaron Carty, Joelle Taylor, Michael Cashman CBE, Niki Albon, James Mac, the Cocoa Butter Club, Busy Being Black podcast and more.

The line-up will also feature renowned speakers including Lady Phyll, as well as Human Rights Defenders from Poland and Ukraine.

Events will include make-up tutorials, DJ sets, book readings, workshops on being young and trans, as well as discussions on how COVID-19 is impacting the LGBTI+ community and activism around the world.

A launch party with music and comedy performances will kick off the celebrations on Sunday 28th June, on the same date that the Stonewall Riots - an act of resistance, led by Black and brown LGBTI+ communities against police raids and brutality that sparked a revolution in LGBTI+ activism and civil rights - took place 51 years ago.

Every year, Pride celebrations mark progress made on LGBTI+ rights, but also serve as a reminder of how far there is to go. In 2020, in many countries across the world, simply standing up for LGBTI+ rights means living with the threat of daily discrimination, attacks or even killings.

Comedian Rosie Jones, said:

"I'm so excited to be part of Pride Inside. It's a tough time for a lot of people at the moment. Pride is as important and as relevant as ever. I can't wait to see you all there...virtually!"

Politician, former-actor and Stonewall co-founder Michael Cashman, said:

"As we celebrate Pride Inside we should remind ourselves that some people dream of having a Pride celebration in their country and dare not be themselves. Intolerance is growing - it is time to stand together.''

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, co-founder and executive director of UK Black Pride, said:

“We understand how vital events like UK Black Pride have become for the communities we represent, and were deeply saddened we had to postpone our annual celebration. Pride Inside is a programme of digital events that will provide a space for our communities to discuss, learn and celebrate at a time that is particularly difficult for us. Now more than ever, we need spaces to call our own so we can share our experiences with each other, support each other, find our joy and do some much-needed healing work.”

Cara English, Head of Public Engagement at Gendered Intelligence, said:

“Gendered Intelligence is thrilled to be part of this joyous and needed celebration of LGBTQI+ people. Pride Inside comes at a time when trans safety and rights in the UK are under acute threat. We're not allowing any pushback - we're celebrating in defiance. We’re happy to share spaces and stand with our siblings in solidarity, where the pandemic has pushed us off the streets and onto our screens. We’re inside but not back in the closet – we’re going nowhere!”

Joseph Williams, Executive Director, ParaPride, said:

“Right now, more than ever, our community needs to unite and celebrate the true beauty and power of difference. Whilst Pride festivals and marches are postponed for the foreseeable future, it is incredible to still join together with other iconic LGBTQ organisations for Pride Inside to show the world that Pride is a state of mind, not just a series of events.”

In addition to Pride Inside festival, there is also an exciting billboard and visibility campaign being run by www.prideinside.co.uk.