This summer, cities across the UK light up with celebrations of love, diversity, and inclusion and Leeds is no exception.
Leeds Pride has always held a special place in my heart, and this year’s festivities proved to be even more memorable – the city certainly delivered this year with a Pride celebration that was the biggest and best to date.
The Glow Up With Harvey Nichols
My personal Pride experience began with the Media Launch Party on the 17th of July and with a visit to Harvey Nichols Leeds to their Fenty Beauty counter, for a makeup session to get ready for the event.
Pamela, the Fenty counter manager, greeted me with a bright smile and led me to the makeup station. She expertly crafted a vibrant, Pride-themed look using Fenty products; including Fenty’s Gloss Bomb Stix in High’Biscus, which gave my lips a radiant pop of colour, Hella Thicc Mascara, creating voluminous lashes and Traced Out Pencil Lip Liner in RiRi, ensuring my lips were perfectly defined. Pamela also revealed that Fenty have also just launched their new lip oils, which are now exclusively available at Harvey Nichols. By the end of the session, I was not just made up, but uplifted and ready to embrace the celebration ahead.
Media Launch Party at Victoria Leeds
Pride launched with a Media Event at Victoria Leeds (one of Pride’s sponsors). The event was run by PGHL with drinks and canapés provided by The Ivy Leeds. The atmosphere was electric, filled with influencers, media personalities and celebrity guests such as Emmerdale’s Natalie Jamieson and Ash Palmisciano; The Apprentice winner, Rachel Woolford; Interior Design Masters’ Siobhan Murphy, Rugby League star Keegan Hirst and Married at First Sight’s Matt Jameson (who was this year’s Pride host), the event was held in Victoria Quarter at The Ivy under the striking and colourful ‘Reflections of Love’ glass installation.
Jo Coburn, senior general manager at Victoria Leeds, said: “‘Reflections of Love’ is our own unique nod to the iconic rainbow flag, which harnesses the power of natural sunlight to cast beams of colour throughout our destination. It is a striking reminder to the Victoria Leeds community of the love and unity Prides represents.” This gathering was a great launch and set the stage perfectly for the main event: the iconic Leeds Pride Parade.
The Pride Parade
Fast forward to Sunday, the 22nd of July, and Leeds City Centre was alive with colour, music and joy! Leeds Pride, established in 2006, has grown to become one of the largest free Pride events in the UK, drawing over 50,000 participants each year. This year was no exception, with the city centre transformed into a sea of rainbow flags, smiling faces, bands, floats and charities all coming together to celebrate.
I attended the Pride Parade with my two boys, Isaac and Elijah, and with one of my closest friends and colleague Sophie Meilan Malin. We proudly walked with Matt Jameson as part of the charity Out Together LGTB Leeds; a fantastic organization that champions inclusivity and support within the community. This charity works tirelessly to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, offering resources and support to those in need.
Walking alongside my sons and the members of Out Together Leeds was an amazing experience. It was a teaching moment, showing them the importance of acceptance and love in all its forms. As we marched, cheered, and waved to the crowd, there was a deep sense of gratitude and of togetherness. The streets of Leeds were lined with people from all walks of life, each one celebrating love, diversity, and inclusion. Leeds Pride is a true testament to the strength and unity of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies; it is not just a celebration; it is a reminder of how far we’ve come and the work that still lies ahead.
Leeds Pride 2024 was nothing short of fantastic. It was inclusive, joyous, and above all, a celebration of who we are, as individuals and as a community.
For more information about Out Together Leeds, visit their website: https://outtogether.lgbt/
If you’re already excited for next year’s Leeds Pride and want to get involved, keep an eye on Leeds Pride for updates and volunteer opportunities: https://leedspride.com/
And if you’d like to treat yourself to a fabulous Fenty makeover like I did, you can book your own session at Harvey Nichols Leeds by visiting Harvey Nichols Leeds: https://www.harveynichols.com/store/leeds/
Review and images by Victoria Reddington @vic_reddington
