Thousands Attend 18th Annual UK Black Pride

August 19 saw thousands of marchers attending in honor and solidarity for the Black LGBTQ+ community in Stratford, as the 18th annual UK Black Pride took place. With celebrations hosted in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, UK Black Pride remains Europe’s largest Pride-based event for LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin, American and Middle Eastern-descent.

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The event, which was first formed in 2005 in Southend-on-Sea, has expanded in popularity each year, welcoming hundreds of new attendees and proud LGBTQ+ people and allies. In 2022, UK Black Pride moved to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to allow for the ever-increasing turnout. In response to these increasing numbers, organizers created a Family Zone in the park for attendees with children to attend and feel comfortable.

Every year represents a different theme, and the theme for 2023 was “legacy”. Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, executive director of UK Black Pride, spoke about what this means for the celebration.

"I think everyone who has walked through this park understands what legacy means to us, understands what support, bravery, security, love, happiness and joy means to us," she said. “That's what UK Black Pride is about."

Coinciding with the event, BBC 1Xtra has announced a brand-new, groundbreaking Black LGBTQ+ dating podcast called ‘Swipe Your Sign’. This will feature Nathan Henry (from Geordie Shore) and Ro Frimpong, from the Two Twos podcast, as double act hosts, seeking to help Black LGBTQ+ people thrive in their love lives.

Head of Finance at UK Black Pride, Chloe Davies, revealed what it meant to her to celebrate this momentous occasion.

"To the black community, Black Pride means everything to us,” said Chloe. “We know that in the LGBTQ+ community there is still so much discrimination... UK Black Pride is a place to help address some of those issues.”

"UK Black Pride is not just today. It is 365 days of the year,” she added. “We are here for our community wherever you are at. Please come and find us, we are waiting for you."

An afterparty took place at Evolutionary Arts Hackney (EartH), with music and performances taking place late into the night in an immense celebration of the community.