LGBT Foundation publishes report on the future of Manchester Pride

A report outlining how Manchester Pride can strengthen its relationships with the LGBTQ+ community and improve accessibility has been published by LGBT Foundation, based on our principles of co-production and lessons learned from our own growth.

The document sets out recommendations on how the four-day Manchester Pride Festival can regain the support of Greater Manchesters LGBTQ+ community, following feedback on required improvements from the 2021 event.
The recommendations, published in Manchester Pride Report: Accountability, Transparency, and Change offer clear proposals on improving inclusion at Pride, such as involving People of Colour,disabled LGBTQ+ people, and other marginalised groups, to ensure all voices are represented at
the event, which takes place every year across the August Bank Holiday weekend in Manchester City Centre.

Local groups such as George House Trust, the Proud Trust, Rainbow Noir, African Rainbow Family, and national initiatives such as Trans Pride, Black Pride, Muslim Pride, and Reclaim Pride are noted as groups that should be consulted on inclusive events across the Festival, and the report suggests looking to other LGBTQ+ events such as Queer Picnics, to ensure
Manchester Pride is as accessible and inclusive as possible.

LGBT Foundations report further recommends improvements to accessibility including offering British Sign Language at events venues.
Feedback from members of the LGBTQ+ community to LGBT Foundation also raised the desire for improved communications with the community as Manchester Pride continues to grow in size and popularity.
The report outlines community requests for focus groups, and opportunities for LGBTQ+ People in Greater Manchester to contribute their ideas and feedback to help Manchester Pride better represent its diverse community audience.

Additionally, LGBT Foundations report suggests creating an independent system for reviewing Pride on an annual basis, with community engagement at its heart; and to audit venues hosting Pride events to ensure they are accessible, staff are trained, and there are processes in place tohandle complaints.

Paul Martin, Chief Executive at LGBT Foundation, said: Pride events are hugely important to many LGBTQ+ people, and we want to see Manchester Pride grow and change so that it is inclusive, safe, and fun for all members of our community. This report sets out our recommendations in good faith, for improving accessibility and engagement with the community,and we will work closely with Manchester Pride to ensure the Festival is a success.

We offer ourselves as ongoing allies and partners of Manchester Pride and the
recommendations in this report are an opportunity for us to deliver on our vision of believing in a fair and equal society where all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans people can reach their full potential.

We are keen to look to the future of Manchester Pride, and will be working closely with the teamto ensure it is a celebratory event that represents our entire community where individuals can find space to celebrate being LGBTQ+ in their own way.
Issues around ticket pricing were also addressed, with calls for Manchester Pride to consider a Pay What You Can option to remove barriers for people on lower incomes to participate.

LGBT Foundation hopes the findings, which were developed and agreed by its LGBTQ+colleagues, will help Manchester Pride to strengthen its relationships with the LGBTQ+communities of Greater Manchester, and that it will take on board its recommendations for futurePride events.

You can download the full Manchester Pride Report here.