Swansea’s PRIDE shown in force

SWANSEA PRIDE began with a parade down the Kingsway led by a rainbow adorned percussion band and dancers.

It was the start of a great day where various groups and organisations came out to show their support in force.

Along the side of the street onlookers videoed and waved their colourful flags representing LGBTQ+ groups at the passing buses.

Support also came from Swansea Emergency Services. An ambulance and police car decked out in pride colours with the siren lights altered to be colourful; Swansea West Labour Party, Swansea Gay Men’s Chorus, the Socialist Worker’s Party, Swansea Young Socialists, and support for the Miners from a number of participants.

There were also shows of solidarity from Sainsbury’s, Co-op Funeralcare, Public Health Wales, Swansea Unitarian Church, Swansea Sound, and Lloyd’s Bank.

First Cymru, the public transport provider in Swansea, also played a significant role, providing one of its double-decker buses as a float, sending another single lorry down with signage, and hosting a kiosk in Museum Park, where the parade concluded.

Chwarae Teg, ‘leading and delivering gender equality in Wales’ also proudly joined the procession alongside other groups such as Swansea Stand Up to Racism.

The attendants ranged from children and families, students, hardened activists and unabashed members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Despite this display of unity, however, there were moments of controversy, as when some held up banners denouncing transactivism.

When finally arriving in Museum Park the current of revellers was so strong that traffic had to be manually directed, officials parking a truck while hundreds of proud marchers entered the grounds where the Street Food Festival was set up.

Dozens of booths dotted the green and where they didn’t people took advantage of the sun and music and chilled out on the grass. In the centre a pavilion was set up for people to eat.

Vendors rolled back and forth with trollies of souvenirs, hats, notebooks and sweets.

At the back over a small makeshift bridge was a photo booth and kiosks by sponsors, like First Cymru and Swansea Council, where information on careers and recycling were made readily available.

The mix of delicious food – like gourmet macaroni or specialty tacos – and great entertainment made the event a hit. With live musical performances by an all female burlesque group called ‘Velvet Lake’ and an all male singing trio called ‘The Valley Boys’, the festival proceeded.

Rob Stewart of the Swansea City Council also spoke, sharing his pride for his city and pledging £10,000 from the Council for Pride 2020.

Photos: Alexis McDonald