Bourne Free
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| Bourne Free | |
|---|---|
 Official logo of the festival | |
| Frequency | annually |
| Location(s) | Bournemouth |
| Inaugurated | 2004 |
| Website | www |
Bourne Free is an annual pride festival in Bournemouth, England.
History
[edit]The festival was established in 2004[1] when a far right organisation was due to come to Bournemouth to demonstrate against homosexuality. Many prominent figures and active members of the LGBT community in the area came together to organise an event in the Lower Gardens[1] to defend LGBT people from the event and create a day of celebration rather than hostility.
The event included entertainment at The Bandstand, a balloon release with a two-minute silence for victims of hate crime, and Bournemouth's first Gay Pride march. The Bourne Free committee that had organised the event continued organising Bourne Free as an annual charity event. In 2006, event was renamed as the Bourne Free Pride Festival.
In 2008 the Pride Parade moved onto the streets of Bournemouth. An estimated more than 4,000 people attended the event that year.[2]
In 2020 the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event returned in person in 2021.[3][4]
Themes for the event include "Paint the World with your Pride" (2019)[1] and "Stronger Together" (2021).[5]
The theme for 2024 was intended to be "Eurovision" but the organisers scrapped this theme due to the Israel–Hamas war, and controversy around Israel's participation in the Eurovision contest.[6] The theme for 2024 was ultimately changed, with the website stating "There is no theme this year. Be you - the vibrant, colourful, beautiful, YOU!"[7]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "'Get ready to party': Thousands expected at next weekend's Bourne Free pride festival". Bournemouth Echo. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Bourne Free 2009 to be held in July". PinkNews. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "All you need to know ahead of Bourne Free this weekend". Bournemouth Echo. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "IN PICTURES: Hundreds enjoy the Bourne Free Pride parade". Dorset Echo. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Watson, Eve (22 August 2021). "The best moments from Bournemouth's Pride festival". dorsetlive. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Andrews, Charlotte (14 March 2024). "Bournemouth Pride event scraps 'controversial' Eurovision theme". BBC News. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ Simone, Carlo (5 July 2024). "Everything to know for Bourne Free Pride Festival 2024: Parade, times and more". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
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