Leeds celebrates pride with new city centre LGBT+ 'flower-towers'

A floral representation of the Pride flag – the iconic symbol for the LGBT+ community – has been officially unveiled on the Leeds Pride parade route through Leeds city centre.

The colourful ‘flower-towers’ form part of a number of ways the city is celebrating in the lead up to this year’s Leeds Pride parade on Sunday 5^th August.

Passers-by and visitors to the busy Penny Pocket Park, opposite Leeds Minster, will now be able to enjoy the fantastic display designed by Leeds City Council’s parks and countryside team.

Leeds Pride attracts thousands of visitors to the city each year and is an opportunity for people to come together to celebrate the cities LGBT+ community and equality and diversity rights in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere of fun and colour. It’s one of the largest free Pride events in the UK, with 40,000 people coming together for the parade and party in August.

Leeds City Council’s LGBT+ Champion, Councillor James Lewis, joined Councillors Mohammed Rafique, Jonathan Pryor and Al Garthwaite at the unveiling.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for Environment and Active Lifestyles, said:

“Leeds Pride is one of the city’s most exciting and inclusive weekends of the year, so we were thrilled to kick off the celebrations by unveiling the Pride flag themed display in Penny Pocket Park, right in the heart of Leeds and on the parade route. The display looks fantastic and marks the beginning of what I’m sure will be an exciting lead up to this year’s big event.”

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for Learning, Skills, Employment and Equality, said:

“Leeds has a long and strong LGBT+ history which we are very proud of. Every year the Pride event gives us a chance to reflect on how far we have moved on in embracing inclusion, equality and diversity, and I’m sure this year’s celebrations will be no different and will attract yet another huge crowd.”

Councillor James Lewis, Leeds City Council’s LGBT+ champion, said:

“Pride is a fun and vibrant event, but it is also an opportunity for us to reinforce the message that Leeds is a city that welcomes all people. The city centre Pride flowerbed is just one of the many ways we will be showing our ongoing support and commitment to the LGBT+ community in the lead up to Pride.”

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Becky Stubbs, Leeds City Council press office

rebecca.stubbs@leeds.gov.uk

0113 3786199