Keep our reporting free for everyone to read  Upgrade to paid

ON OUR RADAR

Exeter Pride 2022

Exeter Pride returns for an in-person celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity and visibility after moving online in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leigh Curtis

Exeter Pride returns for an in-person celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity and visibility on Saturday 14 May this year.

The giant 50 metre rainbow flag will lead a parade through Exeter city centre which will include community groups, firefighters, police, students, trade union and business groups as well as individuals, with music, dancing and more.

Marchers will gather from 11.30am at St Sidwell’s Community Centre for a noon start before making their way through the city centre to Northernhay Gardens where local LGBT+ choir Spectrum will open an afternoon of live musical and spoken word performances.

The main stage will host musicians including local folk duo Suthering, spoken word rap artist Mama Tokus and slam champion Jasmine Gardosis, with a showcase of drag performers from around the south west.

Local LGBTQ+ organisations and community groups will also be taking part in a marketplace of 60+ stalls which include a range of local food vendors. There will be information and advice as well as demonstrations and fun.

Exeter Pride 2019 High Street flag photograph by Naomi Parkinson Exeter Pride 2019 in Exeter High Street. Photo: Naomi Parkinson.

Exeter Pride committee chair Tamsin Scott said: “We are so excited to finally be able to welcome back our friends and allies in the LGBTQ+ community.

“The last few years have made it harder than ever for us to support each other, especially in the face of harmful narratives and policies that threaten the most vulnerable in our community.

“We also face fresh challenges this year as we work with our local business partners and sponsors in a changed economic landscape.

“It is vital now that we can come together, be visible, be proud, and stand in solidarity with those who are currently unable to do so.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone back as our community is what makes Exeter Pride the amazing day it is!”

Subscribe to The Exeter Digest - Exeter Observer's essential free email newsletter

Your personal information will be processed and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy

Now running for more than ten years, Exeter Pride is a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and questioning plus communities. It is one of the biggest free Pride events in the country.

The event relies on local sponsorship, small amounts of public funding and donations to pay for road closures, toilet hire, insurance, security and other overheads.

A crowdfunder has been launched to help meet these costs.

Volunteers who want to help out on the day by stewarding or helping setup or close down the marketplace stalls can sign up here.

Visit the Exeter Pride website to find out more and get involved.

Keep our reporting free for everyone to read

Exeter Observer's public interest publishing is paid for by a growing community of readers who each contribute to its running costs.

They enable us to keep our journalism free for thousands of people who might otherwise never know about the things we report.

But it's not enough. We need more paying subscribers to keep our readers informed about what's really going on in our city.

136 of the 300 paying subscribers we need have taken the next step and signed up to support the independent journalism our city needs.

Help keep our reporting free for everyone to read by joining them today, from less than £2/week. We can't do it without you.

Upgrade to paid

More stories
Illustrative view of proposed co-living blocks from Heavitree Road

Heavitree Road police station student accommodation and “co-living” scheme consultation extended

Developers revise application for full planning permission for 813-bed seven-block complex submitted in May as similar proposals proliferate across city centre.

Boneyard arcade games

Unique retro games arcade to create new Sidwell Street venue after long search

Boneyard arcade seeking permission to change use of empty Brighthouse retail unit after making way for “co-living” block at previous Red Lion Lane location.

Proposed revised Mary Arches Bartholomew Street East co-living block elevation

Mary Arches “co-living” developer resists “miniscule” room size criticisms as design revisions prompt further consultation

Changes include increased building footprints and removal of twelve rooms to provide eleven communal kitchens – between residents of 297 studios – while gates obstruct pedestrian thoroughfare and site’s historic setting and significance essentially ignored.

September 2025 permitted replacement scheme west elevation

Council denies data and contrives criteria to dismiss community balance concerns in third King Billy student block approval

Exeter Observer analysis finds more students living in city centre than residents as council bid to include PBSA in housing delivery figures weakens local planning policy – but does not remove it from decision-making altogether.

, updated

Grace Road Fields in March

Botched consultation restarted on sale of 8.5 acres of Riverside Valley Park green space

Council land disposal to include rights to lay underground distribution pipework across River Exe floodplain following “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields heat plant planning approval in face of Environment Agency sequential test concerns.