Council supports Pride month

City of York Council will be joining communities across the city to celebrate Pride Month, joining in the annual Pride parade on Saturday (1 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 with visitors.

The council’s health trainers will be joining the Pride Festival to offer York residents free help and wellbeing support and teams from the council’s fostering team and One Adoption North and Humber will be on hand to chat to visitors. 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.

Many residents and visitors attend and travel in for this event which remains inclusive and free to all. 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. The warm welcome that residents give along the way reflects that many friends and family feel part of the whole community that Pride represents.

Cllr Anna Baxter, an Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion, said:

“York has always been a city that welcomes and fosters diversity and inclusion, and Pride is a wonderful way to celebrate and support diversity and equality. The annual Pride festival helps us continue to raise awareness, stand alongside our communities and encourage inclusivity.

“In a time when some communities are facing an increase in hate crimes it’s more important than ever to stand in solidarity. This month, and every month, we stand in support of the LGBTQIA+ communities and celebrate the benefits diversity brings to our city.”