25/08/2012: We’re almost at the end of the summer season of Olympics, Jubilees, festivals, parties and Prides and everyone’s preparing to be all Autumnal and sensible again.
Whilst some Prides around the country have been amazing, and others not so much (not mentioning any names, let’s leave that in the past shall we?) all of them have an important role to play in celebrating the freedoms that we enjoy as a community, and a reminder to us that there are still people around the world who don’t live in a country of multiple Prides, under the protection of numerous equality laws.
One particularly important event is UK Black Pride, a celebration of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American LGBT people from Britain, Europe and all over the world, showcasing the diversity of the black LGBT community right on our own doorstep.
What started out as a group of women on a minibus jaunt to Southend-on-Sea back in 2005 has grown into a much-anticipated annual event, with increasing support from businesses, Members of Parliament, prominent figures and celebrities, trade unions and black/LGBT community and voluntary groups.
On to the party itself, and one of the most noticeable things about the event is the amazing atmosphere generated. This year, proceedings took place in Ministry of Sound, and as soon as you walked into the legendary club, the explosion of colours and sounds overwhelmed the senses in the most wonderful way.
A microcosm of LGBT London, people of all races were dancing, drinking, laughing and grinding together to some of the fiercest hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, bashment and funky house sounds we’ve heard for a long time.
As someone who’s trawled the London clubs for longer than I care to admit to, and have heard more generic house and seen more blasé-looking clubbers than had hot dinners, the energy and diversity here was just immense.
Intermingled with the revellers were a slew of charitable organisations and speakers, plus performances from fresh and established talent to entertain the masses, all topped off with a few numbers from UK soul legend Omar.
UK Black Pride may not be the biggest and most well-known Pride celebration but it grows every year and deserves all of our support. As this year showcased, it’s not just a “Pride for black people”, there were individuals of all ethnic groups and nationalities blended together, showcasing what a true melting pot London really is.
And with the added benefit that there was always something to see, do, eat, drink, listen to and learn from, UKBP has shown us how to do a Pride celebration right… and we can’t wait ‘til next year!
Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street,
Elephant and Castle, SE1 6DP
Words by Lee Dalloway
Photos by www.chrisJepson.com
