Burnley held its first Pride parade on Saturday (July 29) and it proved a huge success.

The town was decked out with rainbow flags and banners and a boom bike filled the streets with music as dozens of people came together to celebrate pride.

Local charities, organisations, youth groups and trade unions were in attendance at the parade which was led by Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK contestant, Elektra Fence.

A Burnley Pride attendee said: “I loved how welcoming it's been. As a young queer many years ago hanging out in Burnley town centre, this has been beyond what I ever imagined happening.”

Burnley Pride is a LGBT+ community-based project known as ‘Stand Out’ which is led by Burnley-based arts organisation Blaze Arts.

The event was also supported by a team of volunteers including employees from Calico.

The main event at Burnley Mechanics opened with speeches by the Young Producers who organised the event with support from Blaze Arts.

Throughout the afternoon there were live performances on stage by bands and musicians including Leah Leanne, Greg Worden and The Downtown Band.

On July 30, 1971, Campaign for Homosexual Equality held a meeting at Burnley Library which became a milestone in the ongoing struggle for LGBT+ rights.

Historians honoured the town’s role in the fight for equality and Paul Fairweather delivered a workshop on Burnley's LGTB+ heritage.

Mike Jackson, who is one of the co-founders of Lesbians and Gay Support the Miners, and famously raised funds for miners during the strikes in the 1980s, joined the parade and spoke on the stage at the main event. 

Clare Shaw delivered a poetry workshop and attendees also had the opportunity to customise their own Burnley Pride t-shirts with artists Sophie Gibson and make Pride badges.

Helen Thackray is the director of Blaze Arts, supporting young people to develop their creativity, confidence and transferable skills through youth led projects.

The organisers received ‘really positive’ feedback with many people asking for a bigger event and longer parade next year.

Helen said: “It was fantastic to see so many people on the streets of Burnley celebrating Pride.

“This is the first time that a Pride parade has taken place in Burnley town centre and based on the turnout today it's set to become an annual event.

“The Young Producers had a vision and they've made it a reality.”