2003 – Stoke Pride
A Stoke Pride event was originally planned in 2003 but was cancelled due to fears of a homophobic backlash following opposition from local residents and BNP Councillors. Despite the hostility various events were organised by community activists in the years that followed until in 2006 The Club and Three Tuns along with other established venues hosted the “Big Pink CarPark” event. This was the first event that could properly be called Stoke Pride.
The following year the success was repeated with another Pride themed as “Stoke’s Gay Sunday”.
In 2008 Stoke Pride was officially endorsed by the Local Authority but still took place on a car park in Hanley. The theme was “Clubbers Paradise” (photos below)
The following year, in 2009, Pride move to Northwood Park which is where it took place each year until 2016 when the event became too big and moved to Hanley Park. (Photos below of Stoke Pride 2009)
We would love to hear from anyone that has memories, photographs or publicity material from early Pride events to help us expand this article.
Find Out More …
Read an archived BBC report about Pride in 2008
(Photo credit: BBC News Stoke and Staffordshire)
Read the full timeline of Stoke-on-Trent Pride
Read about the 1969 Stonewall Riots and the Birth of Pride
More LGBT+ History Pages
