Totnes Pride Update
- News Totnes Pride
We are so proud that we launched the very first Pride in Totnes (in 2013) which ran for 10 consecutive years and that during two of those years, we ran the event online to ensure that Pride continued, even in the face of a global pandemic. We are proud that Totnes Pride has always remained true to the values of Proud2Be; Celebration, Courage, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Integrity.
Proud2Be has changed dramatically in the last few years in response to the growing need for safe, affirmative spaces where we as LGBTQIA+ people are not required to explain or justify who we are. We now facilitate more groups, events and 121 support sessions than ever before! After some reflection, it has become clear that we simply don’t have the capacity to continue running a yearly Pride event in the way that we would like and therefore Proud2Be will no longer be hosting Totnes Pride.
This has not been an easy decision to make – but a necessary one. Although Totnes Pride was a one-day annual event – a small group of us spent the majority of each year planning activities, raising funds, writing risk assessments, coordinating a road closure, designing posters etc. It was absolutely a labour of love; one which we will always regard as a significant part of the Proud2Be story.
We want to make one thing clear – we still very much believe there is a need for inclusive, grassroots, non-commercialised Pride events in the UK, especially with the onslaught of hate and misinformation directed our way by those with power.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported our Totnes Pride over the years. Although you will no longer see us leading the Pride procession or organising activities on the 1st Saturday in September each year, we will continue to facilitate our growing groups, one-off events and 121 support programmes week by week, year after year. To find out more about everything we do, please head to our website: proud2be.org.uk.
If anyone is interested in launching their own Pride event in Totnes please do get in touch with us, we would be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you may have 🧡
