Thousands turned out to the Oxford Pride march this afternoon as it celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Oxford Pride Festival is the start of Pride Month celebrations which are taking place across the city in June.
The event celebrates lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer life and before the event, councillor Sally Povolotsky asked the city to “bring all the colours and energy you can to be part of something special this year” and the turnout didn’t disappoint.
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The drums are playing as the sun shines down on the march which is almost ready to set off #Pride2023 pic.twitter.com/D4DKDTFEJt
— Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) June 3, 2023
The march started at Radcliffe Square with people beginning to congregate at around 11am as the atmosphere started to build.
Led by a band of drums and dancers, the march made its way from the Radcliffe Camera through the city to Castle Quarter where market stalls and a stage were set up for an afternoon of fun with live music and performances.
The march is in full flow now as it makes it way down Broad Street #Pride2023 pic.twitter.com/jJWNnNqKas
— Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) June 3, 2023
A member of the band, Penelope Lea, 36, from Oxford, said: "It was an amazing atmosphere and a great crowd. It was lots of fun.
It is very important, everybody is born on this earth the way they are and they should be welcome and free to live as they want as long as they don’t hurt anybody else.
“I was slightly nervous at the beginning but the energy of the crowd makes you enjoy it. Anytime I felt tired, I would look at someone smiling and then I would get more energy.
“It’s all about everybody being free to live as they are and to have the same rights as everybody else.”
The parade passed through Broad Street, Cornmarket, Queen Street, Bonn Square and continued over the rainbow crossing outside County Hall.
The Oxford Pride march in its final stretch, thousands turned out in support as a sea of colour swept its way through the city #Pride2023 pic.twitter.com/Josf76THYr
— Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) June 3, 2023
Many families attended the event including Jonathan Costanzo, 32, from Oxford who came with his one-year-old son.
He said: “It is very important because people must know we are all the same.
“It is amazing to bring him. It’s a kind of protest but he has to learn from being little. He is only one year old but it is good to start learning.
“It is good to see so many people, as I said is very important to be here as a community, we are all the same and it doesn’t matter.”
Earlier this week, hundreds of trans rights protesters took to the streets against professor Kathleen Stock’s talk at the Oxford Union.
Ruvi Ziegler, 43, from Oxford, said following this it is “important” for demonstrations like today to take place.
He said: “The climate is very challenging, especially with trans rights. We have seen this in Oxford last week so actually having this event with the support is important.
“Pride started as a protest for rights and it remains a protest in that sense because we haven’t reached the point where there is full equality in this country and def not globally, so there is that element.
“But there is also an element of joy and celebration of what has been achieved and so it’s that combination.”
The celebrations continue until 7pm with an after-party to follow. Events are carrying on throughout the month. To learn more, visit here.
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