York celebrates diversity and equality with Pride

City of York Council will be joining communities across the city to celebrate Pride Month, join in the annual Pride parade and stand up for LGBTQIA+ residents.

During Pride Month - which lasts throughout June - the city walls and Mansion House will be lit up to represent diversity in the city and the rainbow flag will be flown above the Mansion House.

The Council will support the York Pride event on 3 June. Under a Pride banner, council staff will parade from York Minster through the city to the lively and varied celebration at the Knavesmire. There, Council staff and partners will be stand in solidarity with Pride and share information.

The popular Council on a Couch stand will return with the chance for residents to ask questions about the Council, and festival goers will be among the first to find out more about the upcoming ‘Our Big Transport Conversation’, which is launching soon. More info coming soon at: www.york.gov.uk/OurBigConversation. The Council’s Health Trainers will be joining the Pride Festival to offer York residents free help and wellbeing support.

Information about adoption and fostering will be shared. The Council collaborates with four other local authorities to host the One Adoption North Humber regional adoption agency where that 1 in 5 of the families approved as adopters come from the LGBTQ+ community.

Data from the last census shows that York’s population has 2% of people identifying as gay or lesbian – higher than both the national (1.5%) and regional figures (1.4%). In addition, 2.8% identifies as bisexual - more than double the national or regional figures. York residents identifying as a trans man or trans woman is 0.1% - the same as both the national and regional figures – and in 2021, the council voted to become trans-inclusive alongside a range of proposals. In addition, 0.3% of the population identified as other gender identities - 0.2% more than the national and regional figures.

Greg Stephenson from the York Pride committee said: “Recent years have seen thousands of people in York standing alongside the LGBTQ+ community during Pride. The parade has been cheered by shoppers, businesses celebrating diversity and parties thrown along the route of the march.

“This is wonderful support which embraces us all. But inclusion and equality need to be a year-round norm where no-one need fear exclusion or discrimination simply because of who they love. Please, whoever you are, support all LGBTQ+ people with Pride in all you say and do.”

Laura Williams, Assistant Director of Customer, Communities and Inclusion at Cityof York Council, said: “Pride is a wonderful way to celebrate and support diversity and equality in York. Pride Month and the annual Pride festival helps us continue to raise awareness, stand alongside our communities and encourage inclusivity. 

“We want acceptance and tolerance to be an everyday right, and we stand with and show our support to the tireless LGBTQIA+ campaigning by the York Pride committee and York LGBT Forum. Please join us on 3 June.”