Doncaster Pride was an inclusive celebration for all

Sir Nigel Gresley Square was packed out with rainbow flags and cheering crowds on Saturday.

Event organiser Jenny Dewsnap said: “Even though we now have legislation that gives us equality we still need to remind people that homophobia exists and it’s not acceptable.

“Pride is a celebration of gay culture and lifestyle but it’s also a protest against homophobia which does still exist.”

The event was the 13th Pride that Doncaster has celebrated.

Jenny added: “We’ve come so far from being a small gathering of like minded people to a major event.

“It isn’t just LGBT people who come to pride – all communities are welcome.”

The parade set off at 1pm – a colourful procession through the town centre.

It passed several supportive shops who had decked out their store fronts with rainbow flags and other bright decorations.

Then a host of performers sang, danced and spread joy on two stages throughout the day and into the night.

Artists included Fluidity, Soraya Vivian, Dr Bev, Miss Kitty, Ronan Park and many more.

The square was also lined with stalls in support of the event – many selling large rainbow flags and painting glitter onto pride goers faces.

Simon Carr, art director of the Dames who performed at Pride, said: “Theatre itself is a good vehicle to explain all situations of sexuality and freedom of speech - that’s what we're about today.

“Doncaster has a stigma like a lot of places where we live in the past if we’re not careful and I think it’s right that we move forward.

“It’s important that we all understand our right to love and sometimes it’s difficult to do that in this day and age.

“The more that we can be free with that the world is going to be a much better place.”

There was a big announcement early in the day that this was going to be the last parade at Sir Nigel Gresley Square – as the event has gotten so big in the last few years it will now move to Elmfield Park in 2020.

Anthony Nicholson, of the Green Party, who was at the event, said: “The Green Party is keen on equality – we want to listen to what the LGBT community cares about and take that on board.

“My life experience is not the same – I’m a straight, white, male.

“It’s important to get more perspectives than my own.”

Many pride attendees shared their experiences of the day online.

Twitter user @Blistatcapital said: “I’ve had an excellent day at Doncaster Pride.

“The weather was perfect and it was packed with entertainment.

“We did a charity collection with buckets at the event where for some loose change people could have a photo with Dr Bev in her rainbow dress.

“On the way, we met a young lad called Isaac and his Mum.

“Isaac was aged about 5 years old and was wearing a Princess Jasmine from Aladdin dress because that’s what he wanted to wear and his mum was cool with that.

“He was fascinated by Bev in drag, playing with her hair, jewellery, and dress,

“He was loving life and his mum was taking photos.

“I just stood there crying and smiling at something so pure and lovely.

“Bev gifted him some of her jewellery and he loved it.

“For me, this is what pride comes down to – it’s about acceptance, love, and support.”