3 hours ago
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Josh ParryLGBT & Identity Reporter
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Manchester Village Pride say the annual parade will return, alongside the village party and vigil
Manchester Pride will go ahead this year under new management, after the company previously running the event went bust.
The future of the celebration had looked uncertain after Manchester Pride Events LTD collapsed in October, owing more than £1m to suppliers and performers.
Manchester City Council have announced that a new not-for-profit community interest company (CIC), Manchester Village Pride, will take over running the four-day event.
The company, which will be run by volunteer directors, says the core elements of Pride will return, including the parade, village party and the annual vigil to those lost to HIV.
Venues in the area have loaned the new organisation £120,000 to support the planning and delivery of the event.
A spokesperson for Manchester Village Pride said it aims to "give back as much as possible to the community that Pride exists to serve – with every pound of profit supporting LGBTQ+ charities, grassroots organisations and community services."
The group are planning to introduce a Community Advisory Board made up of people from the LGBTQ+ community to ensure a range of perspectives are reflected in the planning of the event.
Deputy Council Leader Cllr Garry Bridges said the council had "always been clear" that Pride should go ahead this year.
He said: "Pride is vital for Manchester, as a symbol of our welcoming and inclusive city, a chance to celebrate our LGBTQ+ communities and to highlight injustices which still exist."
Carl Austin-Behan, one of the founders of Manchester Village Pride CIC, said the move was "a chance to start again".
He added: "Bringing Pride home to the Village is about more than location.
"It is a commitment to responsibility: paying artists properly, funding community groups, supporting charities, protecting LGBTQ+ heritage, and building a sustainable future for Pride in Manchester."
