‘Come Out for Change’ is the theme for Belfast Pride this year. Belfast Pride was founded in 1991 in a spirit of activism by pioneers who defied attitudes that said we couldn’t have a Pride in Belfast and that we should know our place. 100 brave people marched in Belfast Pride in 1991 to show that we could have a Pride in Belfast and that they didn’t want to be treated as second class citizens. Today, in 2018, we are again a place apart, the part of Western Europe with the lowest levels of Equality for LGBT+ people. We need to Come Out for Change.

We want there to be no doubt about the demand for change here and that means that we all need to play our part – run an event to talk about Equality with your workplace, school or group, list it in the Official Pride Guide, plan to attend as many events as you can during Pride and then bring everyone you can persuade to Pride Day to join the biggest Belfast Pride parade ever.

Make Change about all of us – join our ‘Come Out for Change’ campaign and tell us about the change you want to see and how it would make your life better. Send in a 30 second video or a portrait photo of you with text to tell everyone about the change you want to see: change@belfastpride.com

There has been little or no progress on the issues that affect our community including Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia, Bullying and Inclusive RSE in schools, Gender Recognition Rights, Fertility Rights, Mental Health, Marriage Equality and Prep access. We have the right to feel safe and to be ourselves in our own great city and we want to see more Hate Crime reported and dealt with.

Belfast Pride is a protest and a celebration – we need to continue to protest to show that we won’t accept being treated as lesser than our fellow citizens and that this situation needs to change now. The lack of Equality here is damaging lives, causing real hurt and cannot continue. Come out for Change to Belfast Pride and demand the change that would make your life better and to make a stand for the rest of our community and those who cannot march.
Belfast Pride is a celebration of LGBTQ lives and Pride gives a unique feeling of support and affirmation that makes a real difference to the lives of LGBT+ people. Pride is a time to celebrate our identities and give encouragement to those who need support and acceptance. We need to banish the stigma that affects the mental health of so many LGBT+ people. Come out for change to Belfast Pride, celebrate your life, embrace your true self and share the positivity and acceptance.

We need to come together as a community, accepting and celebrating our rich diversity of identities and opinions – we’re all on the same side and working together will make us all stronger.
We need to Come Out for Change, talk about the Change we want to see in our lives, bring people with us and make Belfast Pride where we make a stand for real change.