Northern Ireland

Pride parade goes online for virtual celebrations

People enjoying Belfast Pride weekend in Belfast city centre
People enjoying Belfast Pride weekend in Belfast city centre People enjoying Belfast Pride weekend in Belfast city centre

BELFAST'S Pride parade has taken place online this year with a virtual celebration instead of the usual colourful street parade.

The city's 30th LGBTQ celebration was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and an online event was instead broadcast.

Last year's parade was the biggest to date with more than 50,000 people taking to the streets.

Curtis Lee from Co Antrim said while he enjoyed being in Belfast for last year's parade, he put on his rainbow colours and celebrated at home this time.

He said: "It is definitely not the same feeling compared to being out and about in Belfast itself for the Pride parade.

"The people and the atmosphere around the city is what makes it special each year for me.

"But have got to make the most of what we have so I am celebrating at home from Ballymena by watching the virtual parade and having a few drinks later on this evening."

For 2020, the organisers asked people to send in a short video instead about how they are celebrating.

Parade hosts Trudy Scrumptious and Gareth Woods presented a four-hour live show featuring the best of the videos sent in.

An online Party In The Square also took place featuring music and talent from Northern Ireland's LGBTQ community.

Public Health Agency spokeswoman Fiona Teague said Pride was an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the organisations working to support the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ community.

"Due to the Covid-19 restrictions we, like so many other supporters, are unable to take part as usual in the Pride parade.

"We want to send a message of support to the LGBTQ+ community and let them know there are support services available for their needs, and to not struggle on their own with whatever they are going through.

"Research has shown that overall, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender community are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and other mental health issues due to discrimination and social isolation."

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said Pride was a chance to reflect on positive changes for the LGBTQ community in Northern Ireland.

In a video posted on Twitter, Ms Long said: "While we will certainly miss having the gathering of the Pride parade, it is still nevertheless very important that we focus on what we have achieved over the past few years as a community and what we can achieve in the future by working together."

"Obviously we have had big wins with equal marriage but we still have work to do to ensure those in civil partnerships can transfer them to be marriages if they wish to do so."