Attendees give verdict on Cambridge Pride 2024 - with one saying it's 'on par with Brighton'

Cambridge Pride 2024 saw Jesus Green swathed in rainbows on Saturday. It was the fourth Pride event in Cambridge, and brought the city’s first ever Pride parade.

The free event included music, dance and drag performances – as well as family-friendly activities such as Pride flag making. It was created by a team of volunteers led by Cambridge-based charity, The Pink Festival Group.

CambridgeshireLive spoke to some of the people attending this year’s Pride. Take a look at what they had to say below.

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“You can live life out loud and free”

Jonathan Wiggins said: “I love it – there’s drinks, there’s food, there’s fun, there’s dancing. It’s important that we have a Pride because we need to make sure we remember why we have a Pride.

“Discrimination is still real today and we need to make sure that we show people that you can live life out loud and free and everything will be fine.”

Younger LGBTQ+ people “own the place”

It was Laura Leigh’s first time at Cambridge Pride this year. She said: “It’s bigger than I expected and good fun. Pride is important everywhere.

“There are so many people here and this is their first time “out”, especially younger people. They’re sort of scared and, suddenly, they come somewhere like this and think: ‘there’s all my people! There they all are.’

“And you see the look on their faces as they go around – smiling and just happy. They own the place for a while.”

“We’re here and we’re not going away”

Ben Mackworth said: “Pride’s very important because it’s important, still, for queer people to be visible and present. We’re here and we’re not going away, despite what many people in the government want to happen.”

“We should celebrate difference”

Barry Waterson, night porter at the University of Cambridge, said: “I’ve been in Cambridge for over 40 years now and I’m in my 60s. I remember, when I first came to Cambridge, it was very hard to identify and come out as a gay man.

“I think this is fantastic because the flags, the colours and the inclusivity makes you feel like you belong and that’s the important thing. I think we need to be aware that there are issues today, especially for young people, nonbinary and trans people.

“They are being constantly attacked and I think it is now about forming alliances and supporting people. Pride is a much broader spectrum these days and I think we should get into the mode of celebrating difference – not tolerating difference.”

“Glad to see it happening now”

Brian Bender had never been to a Cambridge Pride before Saturday, and he said he was surprised that it has only been around for four years. He continued: “You would think a city as liberal as Cambridge would have had one before this, so I’m just glad to see it happening now.”

“On par with Brighton Pride”

Amanda Smith, from Saffron Walden in Essex, said: “Having been to Brighton Pride, which is amazing, this is on par. It’s really, really good.

“In Brighton, you have to pay to go down some streets, whereas here everything is free.”

“Pride brings visibility and happiness”

Ben Sawyer, who first attended Cambridge Pride in 2020, said: “Pride is really important because it makes people have visibility and happiness. Especially in places where people can’t express themselves as much, it’s really nice to see visibility.

“Pride is a really accepting place and it’s lovely having a community here.”

"Still a protest"

Ines Agostinho said: “It’s not just a celebration of love, but it’s still a protest. Homosexuality is still not one hundred percent accepted everywhere and it needs to be.”

“Respect to the bigger outfits”

Alice Holmes has been to every Cambridge Pride. She said: “I think it’s such a nice environment for everyone. Cambridge Pride has got bigger, definitely, which is lovely to see.

“More and more people have been coming and bigger outfits – respect to the bigger outfits. I love Cambridge Pride. Happy Pride!”

A Cambridge Pride spokesperson said: “If there is to be a Cambridge Pride in 2025, we need to secure £100,000+ of funding offers by the end of this year. This is the only way we can make Cambridge Pride viable.

“If your company could sponsor Cambridge Pride 2025 email us at sponsorship@cambridgepride.co.uk today to start the conversation.”