From 10.45am, a parade of more than 2,000 people began to make its way from Reading Train Station down towards the Oracle Riverside, and back up towards King’s Meadow via Forbury Gardens.
Trustees of Reading Pride said: “It’s important to emphasise that this was put on by a relatively small team of volunteers who have taken 1-2 weeks out of their annual leave plus all the hundreds spare hours around it over the year to put this day on for everybody.
“We are not an events company although it may look like it, we don’t have a single paid employee and that includes our top level officers like Tom and Martin.
“We are very proud of our committee who work very hard often without enough credit.”
They also thanked MyUmbrella LGBT+: “without the work they do within Pride throughout the year, the ‘Love Unites’ theme that now dominates the festival wouldn’t have come into fruition.”
They also congratulated the project on its seventh birthday.
Some of Reading’s biggest charities and organisations take part in the parade, including the LGBTQ+ resources and support service Support U.
Jamie Dewson, casework supervisor at the organisation, was awarded the Alice Driver Award, along with Olive Budzinska, for their contribution to domestic and sexual violence support for LGBTQ+ communities.
Mr Dewson said: “It’s a very, very important thing to be here, as it’s paramount that we have visibility within the community.
“Because a lot of LGBT+ people, despite after 10 years of us running, a lot of people still don’t know that there’s a specialist service providing a range of different services.
“That includes specialist services around domestic abuse and sexual violence, a helpline, a youth group, we have an 18+ group for the trans community,
“We provide on a national scale, with lots of training and bespoke packages, so we’re improving the acceptance of those within different institutions.”
The Blagrave Arms was also decked out in Pride regalia, spraying confetti into the air as the parade passed through.
After noon, the Love Unites Festival began with the mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, starting proceedings with an address.
She said: “Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, whatever your identity, Reading welcomes you.
“But let’s remember that pride is not just a celebration, it is also a protest – we stand in solidarity with LGBT people around the world and here in this country who continue to face danger, persecution and discrimination.”
Cllr Eden said she was proud of the event, and: “the committee have done an amazing job, so I’d like to give them a massive cheer and thank you.
“This Pride is a really special one – it’s big, it’s loud, it’s proud, and it’s still free.”
Club FOD’s Jamie Wake hosted the festival’s Jan Bastable main stage, introducing the Rock Choir, Leadly, Sam Solace, and Janethan.
Mr. Wake said at the event: “Without the T, there’s no LGB – we’re a big family, and we need to continue to make a difference and remember why Pride exists.
He was later presented with the Selwyn Jones Award, which was named after and dedicated to Mr. Wake’s late partner for his work as a Reading Pride trustee.
He said it was an emotional moment to have been given the award, and added: “We don’t do what we do to be commended, we do it simply because it’s the right thing to do.
“I always say the we all need a Selwyn in our lives, and all I’ve tried to do is take on his legacy.”
It will be his final Pride event in Reading, as he plans to move away after 18 years of work supporting Reading’s LGBTQ+ community.
Bentley Jones, Lolly, Carter the Bandit, and Ring the Alarm were among those who rounded out the line-up.
Nadine Coyle dazzled with a final headline show, and Wilma Fingadoo closed the main stage.
The Pride Xtra stage featured drag artists throughout the day, with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alumnus Sum Ting Wong hosting.
Performances included lip-syncs by Grace Anatomy and Amber Rose Turner, a group dance party with Big Jay, and a powerful routine which explored the levels of violence experienced by LGBTQ+ people.
It concluded with them laying on the floor and a sheet being brought over their head, after which they said: “It is a showcase of explicitly political drag.
“To go back to the roots of drag, that is to challenge our cis-heteronormative systems – systems in our society that oppresses us, so we’re here to show that political drag is vital.”
The Pride aLive stage saw musical sets from Jair, Tomorrow Bird, BeatRoots, Deva St. John, and OSP.
This year also saw the first ever Trans Pride event, with Big Jay hosting an after party at the Rising Sun Arts Centre including Powdered Sugar, Meatgirl, DUAC, and Sheer Obsession.
Philli Mi Up also performed powerful poetry and lip-sync performances, with a DJ set by Ler-ka closed the event.
Sum Ting Wong also held her own after party at Oakford Social Club.
After the parade and festival, Reading Pride’s chief engagement officer, Tom Price, said: What a fantastic Love Unites Festival 2022 – the organisation of the event is taken up by a fantastic group of dedicated volunteers.
“They’re working hard to ensure the festival remains free to all, inclusive, diverse and supporting the LGBTQ+ community and our allies.
“It was incredible to see the response from those in attendance both on the protest parade and the festival itself – the positivity and joyous vibe were felt by all.”
“We can’t thank our volunteers, sponsors, supporters and all those who came along enough – see you next year!”
