Pride in Trafford is set to launch this week as the borough celebrates the LQBTQ+ community and the fight against discrimination.

The official festival launch will take place at Waterside Plaza on Wednesday, May 15 will mark The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which is on Friday (May 17). 

The Chief Executive of Trafford Council will officially declare the opening of Pride in Trafford 2024, by raising the Pride flag, alongside local school children who will perform songs to unify and celebrate diversity.

With a particular focus on community engagement and developing new queer talent in 2024, The Queer Creatives Assembly on Wednesday evening is a free event open to all with artistic passions and talents who wish to connect, collaborate, and celebrate with other LGBTQ+ creatives from Greater Manchester.

Alongside this is an opportunity to watch four brand new works by LGBTQ+ artists in Greater Manchester in partnership with Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Arts & Culture Network, delivered by LGBT Foundation.

Susan Kerr’s We See Each Other Better with Our Eyes Closed explores being an older Black lesbian in the queer community and love in all its messy complexity. 

Trans artist and Drag King, Hunter Millington, explores themes of dysphoria, joy and discovering your authentic self in their new campy country musical for trans equality.

They will be joined by Laurie Williams and Reece Bennett, the most recent commissionees to receive the Pride Stages bursary.

Pride in Trafford will also offer an outlet for the younger members of the LGBTQ+ community and will once again join with local groups Gorse Hill Studios and Rainbow Reflections to present a free special creative, hands-on Pride evening for young people in Trafford on Wednesday 15 May.  

On Thursday, the ever-popular Laugh Riot Comedy Night for Pride in Trafford will return, with multi-award nominated comedian, presenter, actor and writer Stephen Bailey, comic and improviser Kate McCabe and award winning writer Jonathan Mayor all set to perform.

This year's Pride in Trafford presents Block Party Weekender, a two-day event celebrating inclusivity and unity with live performances, family activities, comedy and more, running across the evening of Friday and in the day of Saturday when Waterside’s vibrant theatre space will be transformed into a Ballroom.

The Block Party for Families on Saturday features a number of free and fun outdoor events for all ages on Waterside Plaza. 

Producer for Pride in Trafford and Manager of Waterside, Darren Adams comments: “I’m really excited for this year’s Pride in Trafford; the festival champions LGBTQ+ arts as a powerful vehicle for expression, representation, and social change. Through our celebration, we not only showcase the incredible talent within our community but also create a platform where LGBTQ+ voices can be heard, and celebrated, and our communities’ stories can be shared."