Okay, god knows I need my beauty sleep more than most, and on a promise to attend the wonderful Mantonfest, it was only ever going to be a brief drop-in to Hillworth Park to check out Devizes inaugural Pride, but I’m glad I did.
After an evening of drag queen bingo at the Wyvern Club, people gathered for a picnic styled event at the park with a handful of stalls and attractions. It was only ever going to be a small event, compared to Chippenham’s recent first Pride where they pulled out all stops, but it most certainly was well attended and a landmark in progressing Lgbtq in the town. A huge congratulations should go out to chief organiser Oberon Christmas, drag queen act Miss Lucy Luscious Lips and all in the Devizes LGBTQ group.
Likely the influence of the new Chippenham mayor Declan Baseley, not only the youngest mayor at 27, but first openly gay person too, which accelerated the appeal in Chippenham, hopefully will rub off on neighbouring towns also staging a Pride at varying levels. I’m of the thinking, though, it shouldn’t need the undertaking of someone in both the LGBTQ community and council to assist in staging such events, and town councils could do more to financially support such annual occasions, we all could.
Clashing with town’s annual beer festival was Devizes Pride’s major teething trouble, but it sure is a step in the right direction and wonderful to see the rainbow flags flying out of park as attendees dispersed from the park. What the small group achieved here this weekend was far bigger than the event itself. But as Oberan explained to me, it was a lot of work for them to stage themselves. Pride is not a LGBTQ meeting, but rather an open to all celebration of the common acceptance of equality on many levels, and, personally, I felt this was the vibe at Devizes’ first Pride. From small acorns, I’d really like to see this event sponsered and supported by the town in the coming years. Whatever we can do to help this move forward, Devizine will.
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