Pride Caerffili a huge success as people line the streets in celebration

Caerphilly town was filled with rainbow flags, banners and bunting, for its first-ever Pride event.

The day-long celebration, organised by Caerphilly County Borough Council, was held on Saturday June 24.

Pride Caerffili started with a parade through the town which began at St Martin’s school.

The Sorrell family from Risca came to celebrate Pride together and Joshua Sorrell, 15, told Caerphilly Observer more about why it was important. 

Joshua said: “I think pride events are nice because there’s so much awfulness going on in the world for queer people and especially trans people. 

“It’s nice to see how many people are supportive especially to do with trans stuff because I’m trans.”

Joshua, who identifies as he/him and they/them, added: “Pride events are just nice because it’s just happiness and celebration.” 

Caerphilly Runners was one of many groups which also took part in the march. 

Amanda Oliver, 45, who organised the group taking part in the parade said: “I think it’s amazing we’ve got our first Pride event.

“We’re here because we’re an inclusive club.”

She added: “We think its really important to support our local community because we’re a community running club.”

The parade started at around 12pm and went through the town – past St Martin’s Church, down Cardiff Road, and past Caerphilly Castle before finishing in the Twyn car park. 

A number of politicians had turned out to show their support and one of those was Gerald Jones, MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. 

Mr Jones said: “I think it’s really important to celebrate the first-ever pride here in the Caerphilly County Borough.

“Today is really about bringing the community together. It’s about celebrating who we are.”

Mr Jones continued: “All of these new pride events really support the community. 

 “We’ve made a lot of progress, but there’s still a lot to do.”

Dawn Bowden, Member of the Senedd for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, was also at the event and said: “The parade was brilliant.

“What I really enjoyed was walking through the town”, adding that people’s support along the route was special. 

Ms Bowden continued: “What it showed me was that this is something that the whole community have wanted to come around and support and that there is so much love out there for what we’re trying to do.”

Ms Bowden, who is also the Welsh Government’s deputy minister for arts, sport and tourism, added: “I think it’s a journey that we’ve been on.

“We’re finally getting to that point where we don’t look at people and think ‘Are they LGBTQ’, we’re just looking at people and saying – they are people that are just part of our community and they’ve all got something to contribute.”

Labour Cllr Jamie Pritchard, deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “This is the first council-led pride in the whole of Wales.

“It’s about inclusivity. The event is there for everybody – it’s very important.”

Cllr Pritchard, who also represents Morgan Jones added that it seemed a point had been reached where the question was not if there should be a pride event in the borough but: “Why not Caerphilly Pride?”

Cllr Pritchard continued: “This is a Caerphilly Borough Pride, it’s not a Caerphilly town Pride and it’s absolutely fantastic to see so many people lining the streets really welcoming what we’ve put on today. 

“I hope people just take away that they can attend Pride whenever, wherever.”

Activities continued throughout the day – and throughout the town. 

Aviary, a cocktail bar on Cardiff Road had been open all day and held a drag brunch at 2.30pm with Drag Queen Gypsy Devine. 

Abi Dickens, events manager of the bar, said: “[Pride] coming into just a small town is just amazing.”

Abi, 20, added that the bar always supports Pride Month and is a place where people can feel welcome. 

She continued: “We’re all accepting here we just want you to have fun and be with us.”

In the Twyn car park, performers such as South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus, RecRock, Jordropper, Myst Fortune, and others took to the entertainment stage. 

Stalls selling food, and drink and providing information lined the area and combined with the biweekly Crafty Legs market. 

Labour Cllr Carol Andrews, who is cabinet member for education and communities and the council’s LGBTQ+ champion, spoke about what she wanted people to take away from the event. 

“I just want everybody to see the person and forget about the labels.

“We should be treating people with kindness and love and not hate and division.”

Cllr Andrews, who represents Gilfach, added that there is a plan for many more Pride events in the future. 

“If we can get other towns involved, maybe we can move this event around the borough and make it bigger and better.”

This article was updated to remove the statement that Polly Amorous performed.