Weston-Super-Mare Pride
#lovewins
Find out about the story of WSM Pride
In 2013, saw the formation of the North Somerset LGBT+ Forum by a handful of local volunteers. Its primary purpose was to work closely with Avon and Somerset Police and NHS, BNSSG, CCG to help combat the increasing number of hate crime and reduce isolation within the locality. With little to no LGBTQ+ visibility and a growing appetite for change, the not for profit organization felt the way to become more visible and challenge the issues was to bring a Pride was to locality to help bridge that divides within our community.
Organised and delivered entirely by volunteers, WSM held its first ever Pride event in August 2014 which comprised of a free-to-participate political march and a one day festival of LGBTQ+ celebration accessible to all members of the community.
By 2017 a second day was added to our annual event and was dedicated to celebrating our community’s achievements in elevating diversity and equality.
As of 2018 WSM Pride introduced a management structure and became an all year community project hosting regular inclusive events, workshops and educational talks to promote better awareness of LBGTQ+ rights and challenges within the local community, UK and abroad.
As an organisation, we stand by our values to make Pride accessible, educational and inclusive for all, and staying true to those values and the positive feedback from our community WSM Pride organically grew over the next couple of years.
Thanks to our amazing team of volunteers, our continued commitment to our values and reaching out to every pocket of our community, WSM Pride 2019 was able to deliver our largest event-to- date and as a result exceeding 5000 capacity at Grove Park. As we head into 2020 WSM will continue to elevate our fight for equality for all members of the LGBTQ+ Family to much greater numbers on the central stage of the Beach lawns in Weston-super-Mare. This location is deemed a prime location in Weston- super-Mare and allows WSM Pride to have maximum visibility during the event.