The Scottish Pride Report 2019

THE SCOTTISH PRIDE REPORT 2019

A Pink Saltire publication INTERVIEWS MUSIC FILM OPERA BOOKS THEATRE SCENE NEWS

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SCENEALBA.CO.UK [email protected] FACEBOOK.COM/SCENEALBA Foreword by Stuart Duffy Scottish Pride Organisers Network

2019 was the biggest year ever for Pink Saltire travelled to New York this summer to take part in the World Pride / Pride in Scotland, with 21 events Stonewall 50 parade through Manhattan across the length and breadth of the in a self-funded exercise, representing country. An incredible number of Scotland in the official line-up of over people took part in Pride marches 200,000 participants. An estimated 5 million people lined the route around the and events in cities and town from famous city cheering on marchers and Stornoway to Dumfries – more than it was an incredible experience for our 70,000 infact! organisation to represent our country abroad. It was a year of success for brand new organisers, with events held for Later in the year we also travelled to the first time inOban, East Lothian, Newry in Northern Ireland to represent Ayrshire, East Kilbride, Forth Valley and Scotland at UK Pride. The event threw Alexandria, as well as a new event called a focus on the anomaly of the country MardiGla in Glasgow. The commitment being the only part of the UK which had and dedication by Pride volunteers to no equal marriage laws and this became improving the visibility of lesbian, gay, the focus of a campaign which ultimately bisexual and transgender people in saw the successful introduction of new these areas is outstanding. The time and legislation through Westminster before personal sacrifice needed to organise the end of the year. these events often goes unrecognised, but without them we know LGBT people Looking ahead to 2020, Pride will would continue to feel isolated, so it’s celebrate its 25th anniversary in Scotland thanks to them that the Pride sector as Edinburgh looks back to 1995 when continues to grow across Scotland. the first march took place in the midst of the Section 28 debate. It highlights Support for those new organisers was the journey Scotland has been on in delivered through the Scottish Pride relatively recent times, from a rather Organisers Network, chaired by Pink socially conservative country to an open, Saltire, and we are committed to continue progressive and welcoming nation. to offer advice, guidance and resources for new voluntary teams where possible. Almost expertly planned, albeit completely coincidental, the number of Of course the advice of experienced Pride organisers in Scotland looks likely organisers is one of the key assets of to reach or even grow beyond 25 in the Network and teams from Edinburgh, this silver jubilee year too! New events Fife, Glasgow, West Lothian, Perthshire, are planned for areas such as Paisley, Dumfries, Dundee and others have helped Lochaber, Orkney, Scottish Borders build the confidence of those taking the and Dunoon with organisers hoping to reigns for the first time! programme events and marches with the support of LGBT groups and local 2019 was also a special year in Scotland organisations. We wish all the new and as we marked the 50th anniversary of existing organisers well in their efforts the Stonewall riots in New York City. this year and encourage everyone to Every Pride event featured banners and support your local Pride organiser and signs which paid tribute to those brave get out to march alongside LGBT people LGBT folk who stood up to abuse on for equal rights, inclusion and against Christopher Street in 1969. discrimination in 2020.

4 THE SCOTTISH PRIDE REPORT 2019 Pride in Numbers

Our successes in 2019

1. Collectively as Pride organisers, we delivered the most diverse range of Pride events A record 21 Pride Scotland has ever seen – 21 Events were held in 2019 events in total between March and September. More than 500 2. Huge numbers of people volunteers organised took part in Pride marches, Pride Events including an estimated 14,000 in Edinburgh and over 10,000 in Inverness. £238,000 to stage all the 2019 events 3. 52% increase in people taking the average cost of a Pride event part in Pride events – from was £11,000 46,000 in 2018 to over 70,000 in 2019. There was an economic boost of 4. Keeping Pride free for the public to participate in our at least £2million marches was maintained and to Scotland’s economy extended. The right to protest for our rights and to celebrate our LGBT+ community will remain 70,000 free. people took part in 2019

5. Pride volunteers contributed over 8,000 hours of work for their communities organising Pride this year, with a value of over £72,000 based on the Scottish Living Wage – Pride organisers in Scotland employ zero paid staff.

THE SCOTTISH PRIDE REPORT 2019 5 TRANS PRIDE SCOTLAND 30th March 2019

March attendance: 500

Festival attendance: 500

Cost of Pride: £1,000

Economic impact: unknown

“We’re happy to see just as many folk turn up to our event despite it being out of the central belt and in a smaller city! Onwards to next year!”