Swansea revellers tickled pink by support for annual Pride festival

SWANSEA was tickled pink this weekend with the return of the annual Pride festival.

The all-day event, held in Singleton Park on Saturday, saw hundreds turn out to celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

And despite the rain, revellers were out in force for the festival, which featured an array of cabaret and drag acts, bands and comics.

Drag queen Leslie Lush hosted the main stage in a dress covered with pink feathers, and there was also entertainment from a Lady Gaga tribute act, boy band Quantum and Luminites.

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As well as performers there were a number of stalls selling food and drink, rainbow items, slogan T-shirts and others offering information and advice to people.

Peter Martin, chairman of Swansea Pride, said everyone had enjoyed the event.

He said: "This year's Swansea Pride was our fourth event and while the rain did put some people off from venturing out, those who did enjoyed eight hours of live entertainment from our stages and a dance tent featuring a line-up of some of the best DJs in Wales.

"We're taking a short break and in August we'll start planning our fifth event for 2013."

Councillor Fiona Gordon, 40, said it was a great event for the city. It's a celebration of all aspects of Swansea life," she said.

"We've been going for a few years. There's a lot of support for it."

And fellow councillor John Bayliss, 22, said: "It's just fantastic. It's almost as if we are demonstrating how cosmopolitan Swansea is."

And people travelled from across South Wales to the festival.

Fran Edwards, 20, from Llanelli, said the event was a good way for young gay people to meet others in the same situation.

"It's great that there are straight people here to support it," she said.

"It's definitely important for young people, as some can't go into the gay clubs to meet people."

Martin McDonagh, 32, who had travelled from Tonypandy in Rhondda, said the event helped give support to some members of the LGBT community who might feel isolated.

"It gives us some identity," he said.

laura.burnip@swwmedia.co.uk