SOUTH TYNESIDE GEARING UP FOR ITS VERY FIRST PRIDE

POP royalty, homegrown tv talent stars, a parade of pets, displays, exhibitions and workshops – just some of the activities that are ensuring the very first Pride In South Tyneside will be an event to remember.

Organised by charity, Out North East, the full details of events taking place throughout July have now been unveiled, with the promise of something for everyone – which includes four legged friends.

Pride will be joining forces with South Tyneside’s annual Summer Parade on 6 July, adding a new element to this popular yearly event.

And that’s just the start of a packed programme which will culminate in Pride in South Tyneside partnering with the Sunday concert in Bents Park on 28 July, where Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge will be performing, alongside Deniece Pearson from Five Star.

In between those dates there are activities taking place across the borough, from film screenings at The Word and the Customs House to Pride Pooches – a dog show sponsored by Lumo and Metro to celebrate pet friendly travel – taking place at Jarrow’s West Park on 14 July.

Homegrown super star Joe McElderry will be hosting his own Big Pride Party at The Customs House on Friday 19 July, joined by a range of superstar drag queens.

And other well-known names from the area are also showing their support, with the After Pride Party being held at South Shields’ Arbeia Bar, owned by Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall.

A special Pride community event is also planned for Hebburn, where a celebration Pride Family Picnic is taking place in Fountains Park on 13 July.

The day will also include a number of workshops from zine making to creating placards.

Along with all of the celebratory activities, Pride in South Tyneside will also be screening a number of films and hosting a major exhibition which highlights the important role Prides play for the LGBTQ+ community.

Flag In the Map, an internationally acclaimed exhibition which explores the iconic rainbow flag in locations across the globe, will be housed at The Word from 5-30 July, featuring people from around the world showing what the rainbow flag means to them.

The Word will also be showing the movie The Times of Harvey Milk, the gay rights politician and activist, while The Customs House will be screening The Sons of Tennessee Williams, a documentary on the gay carnival balls held in New Orleans and Before Stonewall, about the lead up to the Stonewall Riots.

Peter Darrant, who heads up Out North East, said the plan was to ensure that the first ever Pride in South Tyneside would be memorable.

“We hopefully have put together a really exciting and engaging programme to run throughout the July which will have something for everyone,” he said.

“There will be plenty to celebrate but also hopefully the opportunity to be educated about the many struggles that the LGBTQ+ community have dealt with – and are still facing- around the world.

“We couldn’t have put together a programme like this without the support of so many amazing sponsors and we are really grateful to them for all their help and commitment.”

For details of the full programme visit www.outnortheast.org.uk