Milton Keynes Pride Festival 2021 by mkpridefestival

@MKPRIDEFESTIVAL

www.miltonkeynespridefestival.com YOUR FREE GUIDE TO PRIDE

A Celebration of Milton Keynes LGBTQ+ Community

INTRODUCTION Hello one and all!!! The MKPF team are beyond excited to be able to bring Pride to Milton Keynes this year… after having to cancel 2020, we were extra determined to pull out all of the stops to make sure the event went ahead and what an event we have for you!! These past 18 months or so have been indescribable for many, if not all of us. Domestic abuse within homes have risen alongside depression and social isolation. Whilst what we have all experienced will be in the history books for a future generation to read, to us it has just been challenging and sometimes heartbreaking. There are members of the LGBTQ+ community that have been stuck in oppressive and unsafe environments, due to their sexual or gender identity with little or no support. There are some people that have struggled with accepting who they are and have not been able to gather with those who could help them manage and understand this journey. Some positive things to have come out of the recent times is that many people have found knew ways to make contact with others, spend more time with their families, opened new businesses, followed their dreams and had some time to take stock on their own life paths. We hope to bring some of this positive energy to our beautiful LGBTQ+ community and their allies on 11th September 2021. As many of you know we are always on the second Saturday of September and we will make sure to remember those that lost their lives in the twin towers on the day as well. The team are very proud of what we have put together as a FREE event and hope that it brings some joy to those that attend. We have wonderful acts, interesting and inspiring speakers, a rainbow market, information and advice AND a bigger bar! There are things happening around site as well as in the tents… so we hope to have a little something for everyone. We are proud to say that two of this years sponsors actually set up their LGBTQ+ networks after connecting with the event in 2019, we have other wonderful legacy stories that we have shared on our social media platforms. This year we have provided education and advice with many businesses that we have engaged with. We hope this will lead to an improved lived experience of our community living in MK and how as an organisation, we undertake our social action. We are thankful to all of the sponsors and supporters that have enabled us to pay for this event, I am grateful to our team that have all volunteered their time to organise and champion for the community and Pride. We look forward to welcoming the sun and yourselves to come, make friends, learn things and care about each other. Helen Pritchard - Chair.

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CONTENTS SPONSORS

04 COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS

MY MILTON KEYNES

06 Q:ALLIANCE

NHBC

08 HICKFORD CONSTRUCTION

Volkswagen

10 Volkswagen

PLEXUS COMMUNICATIONS

12 CITY FIBRE

MAIN STAGE

14 MAIN STAGE

DRAG & CABARET

16 DRAG & CABARET

COPART

18 COPART

COMMUNITY TENT

20 COMMUNITY TENT

PRIDE SITE MAP

22 FESTIVAL KEY

BREWDOG

24 THE CENTRE:MK

RAINBOW MARKET / FOOD VILLAGE 26 ROBSKI ART

MUSICATION / 22 STUDIOS

28 WOUGHTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL/JNRS 29

12th STREET - PRIDE VILLAGE

30 OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY

MK Community Foundation

32 PRIDE YOUTH HUB

Official Pride Supporter

34 MKPF TEAM

35 03

MILTON KEYNES PRIDE FESTIVAL

SPONSORS

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COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS

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MY MILTON KEYNES

My Milton Keynes the Milton Keynes Business Improvement District (BID), is PROUD to support Milton Keynes Pride Festival 2021. My Milton Keynes is a business-funded partnership that gives businesses within the Central Milton Keynes area the power to get together, decide what improvements they want to make in their city centre and how they will be managed. Adding value, above and beyond the many other authorities and organisations supporting the future of Milton Keynes, is My Milton Keynes’ number one priority and it works hard for each and every BID member, offering many exclusive benefits to CMK employees and the wider community. To show our support for Milton Keynes Pride Festival we will be displaying rainbow bows along Midsummer Boulevard from Milton Keynes Train Station up to Campbell Park where you will reach our colour popping flower rainbow on entering the festival. We are encouraging the local community to come together and support the festival and LGBTQ+ community for this fun filled day. As the festival was so popular in 2019 with amazing jaw dropping acts, we can’t wait to see what MKPF have lined up this year! wwww.mymiltonkeynes.co.uk Facebook @mymiltonkeynes Instagram @mymiltonkeynes Twitter @mymiltonkeynes

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Q:ALLIANCE Q:alliance is a charity providing support, information and representation for the LGBTQ+ community who live, work and play in Milton Keynes and surrounding area. Our youth service has provided outreach in Schools and a weekly drop in for almost 40 years. We advocate on behalf of young people, preparing them for a good start in life. We help promote adult social groups and represent the community so Milton Keynes can be a diverse and vibrant place. All this from a small team of amazing staff, a bunch of awesome volunteers and a great network of fabulous allies. We are delighted to be involved in MK Pride Festival and so proud that the diverse communities have worked together to make this a great event. Bring your smiles, glitter, fur babies, friends & family, along with Pride, Dignity and Respect for all. Come and visit us on the day.

www.qalliance.org.uk Facebook @qalliance Instagram @qalliance Twitter @qalliance

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NHBC

Diversity, in all forms, leads to better business outcomes, but at NHBC we don’t just ‘tick the box’. We believe in creating a positive impact in the communities in which our employees live and work and have a range of partnerships and initiatives in place to support that. Our core values – Excellent, Connected, Human and Progressive – run through everything. We aim to create a great workplace; challenging, supporting and respecting each other, and celebrating each other’s unique contributions. We’re a family friendly workplace whatever form your family takes. We’re always happy to talk flexible working, offering a wide range of benefits to support physical, financial and emotional wellbeing. We’re proud to sponsor Milton Keynes Pride Festival 2021, as we take another step on our diversity journey. www.nhbc.co.uk Facebook @nhbcuk Instagram @nhbcuk Twitter@nhbc

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HICKFORD CONSTRUCTION Top Quality Building and Construction Services in Milton Keynes, Bedford and Surrounding Areas. Hickford Construction is an established local building business who supplies a range of construction services throughout Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas, including Towcester, Buckingham, Stony Stratford & Newport Pagnell. At Hickford Construction, we provide the following services: House Extensions, Patios and Garden Landscaping, Fencing, Excavations and Groundworks, as well as Driveways and Block Paving. After completion of work, many of our customers continue to support us, referring friends and family to us or coming back to our team again for further building work carried out on their home. We have a highly qualified and experienced team who are always on hand and ready to help! It is important to us that we capture the vision you have for your home or garden, and turn that into a reality. We are more than your average local builders, we provide you with quality, reliability and delivering projects to a high standard. We firmly believe in getting the job done effectively and to the highest standard. Our work is top quality and suited to your needs and requirements. Directors Alan & Sally Hickford stated that they are very happy to sponsor this years Milton Keynes Pride Festival & they hope to break down some of the barriers to LGBTQ+ people engaging with the construction industry. Telephone: 01908 567716 Website: www.hickfordconstruction.com Facebook: hickfordconstruction Instagram: hickfordconstruction

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s involvement in Milton Keynes Pride Festival is more than just a gesture – it’s a message from all of us: Volkswagen as a global brand, Volkswagen UK as a national sales company, our Volkswagen Retailer partners, and Volkswagen UK teammates of all backgrounds. It shows our commitment to customers, employees and everyone in between to promote Diversity and Inclusion, so nobody ever feels left out, or less-than their authentic selves. The We Drive Proud UK Employee Network Group (ENG) represents LGBTQ+ employees at Volkswagen Group UK, as well as ‘ally’ colleagues in support of their LGBTQ+ teammates. The ENG sits within a wider Diversity and Inclusion programme at Volkswagen Group UK, with Driven Women, Cultural Diversity and Parents and Carers ENGs set up on behalf of further community groups within the workforce. Further information on Volkswagen Group’s Diversity and Inclusion programme can be found at vwgjobs.co.uk/jobs/workinghere/ The brand’s involvement in Milton Keynes Pride Festival was borne in the We Drive Proud UK network, but has since spread to the wider business, as more and more colleagues expressed their interest in getting involved in the colourful and enriching project. The task team eventually attracted more than 20 volunteers from across Volkswagen Group UK, with additional team members attending the brand’s sponsor area at the festival. The Volkswagen Group We Drive Proud UK network was established in late 2019. The group continued to meet remotely throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, hosting several high-profile online events such as talks with prominent LGBTQ+ figureheads and senior global executives. Membership has expanded from a handful of original attendees to include Board and management team members, with LGBTQ+ colleagues represented, as well as supporters and friends from across the business, both UK-based and international. Volkswagen Group UK’s involvement in Milton Keynes Pride Festival has further raised awareness of the network, which has continued to grow in membership as the festival approaches.

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Volkswagen Volkswagen’s involvement in Milton Keynes Pride Festival is its first engagement in a UK-based Pride, but the exciting news does not end there. That’s because the event sees another first: the debut of the PRID.3 – a one-off, custom-designed ID.3, modified for display at the Pride festival to symbolise Volkswagen UK’s Diversity and Inclusion programme. The PRID.3 is a unique Volkswagen ID.3, created specifically for use at the festival, with the car’s distinctive design – inspired by the psychedelic camouflage pattern used on ID.3 prototypes – rendered in the colours of the Progress Pride flag to create a meaningful and eye-catching livery for the model. This pattern, and the car itself, define Volkswagen’s new relationship with Pride, and represent wholehearted inclusion, and a celebration of diversity. Andrew Savvas, Director of Volkswagen UK, said: “Being involved in Milton Keynes Pride Festival is a brilliant opportunity to demonstrate our support of the local community, as a major employer in the area. Volkswagen means ‘People’s Car’, which stands for all people, so there’s really no better event to get behind than Pride, for the good of our colleagues, customers and community. “The PRID.3 brings together what we do as a car maker, with what we do as a responsible employer. As the PRID.3, it reflects the company giving something back to the local community. The next layer shows Volkswagen looking out for its employees with inclusive and fair employment and hiring practices; and the final layers are the brand’s commitment to environmental responsibility, in delivering the ID.3 carbon neutral to customers, and providing a genuinely affordable electric car. Diversity and Inclusion are at the heart of all that we do.”

Facebook: Volkswagen Instagram: @volkswagen_uk Twitter: @UKVolkswagen

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PLEXUS COMMUNICATIONS

Plexus Communications has evolved from a foundation delivering web solutions and cloud based communications to integrating these core services today with Sales & Marketing automation and much more. Our ethos is to ensure that the customer experience you deliver is the best it can possibly be when communicating with your clients, whether that be through a website, social platforms or the humble telephone. What makes us unique is that we have all of these skills under one roof. We can assist with anything from a simple brochure website right through to a fully integrated enterprise-class platform including elements such as e-commerce, CRM, marketing automation, cloud based PBX, digital customer contact centre, collaboration tools and social media brand development. Our services are all delivered through a cost effective monthly all-inclusive model which means that we can deliver advanced services to small and medium businesses that would have previously been out of reach .We are results driven and having all the skills in-house means we can tailor your brand to ensure your website, business collateral (print + digital) and CRM are all aligned with consistent and effective messaging. Our all-encompassing service model eliminates the need to manage multiple suppliers and the inevitable frustrations that come with having to relay messaging. We enable you to focus on what you do best while we take care of your sales, marketing and communication systems; giving you back more time to run your business. We are proud to be able to support Milton Keynes Pride Festival as their Digital and Design Partner. We are working with the pride to ensure their digital presence and design is inline with each other, eye catching and one that will be a great foundation for years to come. We will be using technologies to market the event and keep the brand and date at the forefront of people’s minds across multiple social channels. www.plexuscommunications.co.uk Facebook @plexuscommunications Instagram @plexuscommunciations Twitter @plexuscomms

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CITY FIBRE

Jean Gowin, CityFibre’s City Manager for Milton Keynes, said: “CityFibre has a great history with Milton Keynes, and we are pleased to be giving our support to such a vibrant event for the city. As a business, diversity and inclusion is one of our guiding principles – this is evident in our dedication to a city-wide approach, ensuring fair access to our network for all. We work hard to ensure we are an inclusive and welcoming workforce, recognising that diversity is key to keeping our business innovative and productive. “Our LBGT+ network supports all areas of our business to ensure we are inclusive and welcoming to all. This has helped us to see areas in the business and our lives where we could be more inclusive, and as part of this initiative CityFibre is committed to supporting Pride events. And we are thrilled that our first Pride event will be in Milton Keynes, the city where we started our city-wide fibre roll-out.” Our LGBT+ network was established in July 2020 and is an inclusive, welcoming group for all, working to provide a confidential forum for staff to provide support when needed. It has a number of aims, which include identifying and responding to matters that impact LGBT+ staff, customers and stakeholders, promoting a culture of inclusivity and recognising and celebrating the positive contribution of LGBT+ colleagues, customers and stakeholders with a focus on pride in 2021. Milton Keynes residents who are interested in joining the CityFibre network can find out more about the build and see if services in their area are live by visiting

www.cityfibre.com/residential

www.cityfbre.com Facebook @cityfibre Twitter @cityfibre

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MAIN STAGE DALE ALI – 12:30

A singer, song-writer and performer from Milton Keynes. Over the past decade DALE has pursued his dream of being a singer from releasing his first single ‘Never Go Back’ which made it in the top 100 iTunes charts.

JAYMI HENSLEY (UNION J) – 13:10

A member of Union J who finished 4th in the semi finals on the X Factor in 2012. Achieving over 50 million streams and sell out tours in the UK & Europe.

LAMONT RICKETTS – 13:45

Competition: Pride’s got talent in 2018. Hertfordshire born though London bred and raised- artist, Lamont is a cheesy pop covers singer turned-Alternative R&B enigma.

JO O’MEARA (S CLUB) – 14:30

Lead singer of pop band S Club 7 which debuted back in 1999 and released 5 albums, starred in 4 hit TV series, their own movie, 3 arena tours and a string of hit singles.

SANDI BOGLE – 15:30

Sandi is a English television personality who is notable for appearing on shows including Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity Fit Farm, Famous and Fighting Crime and more notably TV hit series Gogglebox.

THE SHURES – 16:10

In 2015 The Shures appeared on The X Factor singing a romantic cover of Ellie Goulding’s ‘Love Me Like You Do’ and wowed the audience and judges making it through the auditions!

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MAIN STAGE 24K BRUNO (SHANE SMITH) – 16:40

A powerful and energetic show, with 100% live band and vocals from the very talented ‘Andres Cruz’, paying tribute to the amazing Bruno Mars.

THAT JOE PAYNE – 17:50

Born 1989, Payne is a classically trained vocalist with backgrounds in prog, pop, and rock music, remembered by audiences for his impressive 5-octave range and flamboyant showmanship.

PHILIPPA AKERS (BLACK VELVET) – 19:00

Philippa as seen on The Voice is a local musician and vocal coach with powerhouse vocals, she will be performing her own set and a mixture of covers with her band Black Velvet.

KRISTA GREEN & THE BEES – 19:50

A four-piece indie/pop/rock band that pack a punch. Effortlessly entwining high-energy foot-stomping tunes with laid-back soulful tracks, Krista Green certainly knows how to write a good ear-worm, so their original material speaks for itself.

ROSES & PIRATES – 20:45

Roses & Pirates are a female indie band from Bucks, likened to The Cranberries and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs by g3 and Kerrang! magazine. The girls EP hit the iTunes top 40 and number 2 in the reverbnation chart.

LUCY SPRAGGAN – 21:30

In the UK Lucy’s album ‘Choices’ hit No.5 in the UK Official Album chart, her highest chart position for 7 years and giving Lucy her 6th Top 30 album!

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DRAG & CABARET SANDY FLAPS – 14:05

Milton Keynes local Drag Queen! Lively, Bubbly and full of comedy Sandy will have you in stitches ! Her repertoire is performed 100% live ! from Neil diamond to Tina Turner to Shirley Bassey and a generous helping of musical numbers.

LUCY ROSE ABSOLUTE BRITNEY TRIBUTE – 15:10 The most authentic Britney Spears Tribute Starring Lucy Rose ! Let’s celebrate the outstanding career of the ‘Princess Of Pop’ Miss Britney Spears in this amazing production with hits such as…Baby One More Time.. Slave For You… Stronger… and Oops I did It Again !

LAURA TAPP P!NK TRIBUTE – 16:15

The UK’s No.1 Tribute to the international rock star P!NK. A talented musician in her own right, but performing as P!NK, she has cornered the market! So “Raise Your Glass” and let’s “Get This Party Started!”

LOUIS CYFER – 17:20

Louis Cyfer was the first Drag King to win the crown at Drag Idol UK and has gone on to become a well known performer in the UK cabaret scene.

AMRICK CHANNA – 17:55

Amrick Channa! Unique and Fabulous! A truly International Diva! X-Factor legend Simon Cowell likened him to a 90s Club Soul Diva, whilst Kylie Minogue said she’d be looking out for what Amrick does next!

ALFIE ORDINARY – 18:30

As a drag prince, Alfie identifies as one thing and one thing only - and that’s goddamn FABULOUS! He’s the happiest person you’ll ever meet, so content in his own world of sequins and sparkles.

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DRAG & CABARET PAULA RANDELL CHER TRIBUTE – 19:20

Unequivocally the foremost Vocal & Visual Impersonator/Tribute to CHER. Paula’s forte is also, most definitely, her Cher voice. As Quoted by Georgia Holt, Cher’s Mother: “When I closed my eyes I thought my daughter was singing to me!”

LAWRENCE CHANEY – 20:25

Scottish Drag Royalty & Winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series two, Lawrence is an actor and comedian hailing from Glasgow Scotland. “The Susan Boyle of Drag” fabulous, jaw-dropping and utterly hilarious!

BAGA CHIPZ – 21:30

Leo Loren, better known stage name Baga Chipz is a British Drag Queen known for competing on the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. “Queen of the battered sausage and she loves to be covered in daddy’s sauce!”

HELEN SCOTT - MAIN STAGE HOST

Helen is a professionally trained Presenter, Actress and Vocalist born and raised in Essex. In various formats Helen has worked with prestigious clients including ITV, BBC and Sky and hosted Prides in London, Manchester, Brighton and many more.

LOLA LA QUEEN - DRAG & CABARET - DAY HOST

Local Drag Queen Lola LàQueen a curvaceous ‘Showgirl’ with many talents, saucy layers, comedy and live vocals. An effortless act full of confidence in dominating the stage !

AUSTIN ARMACOST - DRAG & CABARET - EVENING HOST Austin is an international cover model, reality television star, and globally recognised LGBTQ+ fighter. “Some people also like to mention that he was in a relationship with fashion mastermind Marc Jacobs”

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Learn more about selling with Copart at:

remarketing.copart.co.uk | cashforcars.co.uk Buy from Copart at: copart.co.uk

COPART Hello. This is a little bit about us in case you don’t know Copart. Copart UK, based in Bedford, is part of Copart Inc, a global company that specialises in reselling and recycling vehicles online. In the UK, we sell over half a million vehicles each year through our unique online auction on behalf of the motor insurance and wider automotive sectors. We also run cashforcars.co.uk where anyone can sell their vehicle to us and get a great price! So, why are we sponsoring the festival this year? We are a company which actively promotes a culture of respect, equality, diversity, and inclusion. With both our Head Office and Customer Excellence Centre in Bedford, and one of our nationwide Operation Centres located in Sandy, we are also a significant local employer. So, when the opportunity came to support the festival, it was a perfect fit. We genuinely hope everyone has a great time! In the UK, we have over 1,100 teammates based across 19 nationwide locations, and our workforce is as diverse as the communities that we work in. We value the differences that a diverse workforce brings to our organisation, and we are committed to providing a working environment where all our teammates and customers can thrive. From a broader social and corporate responsibility point of view, our ongoing Copart Cares campaign focuses on improvements relating to the communities we work within, sustainability and recycling, and caring for the environment. Every single one of our teammates, customers, partners, and suppliers we work with are part of what we call our ‘Copart Family’ – and respecting and caring for our family is key. We actively encourage people to both be, and develop, themselves. Initiatives like our Copart Apprenticeships and the funding of professional qualifications mean our people can progress both in their jobs and in their qualifications. We are immensely proud to work closely with the charity Ben, which provides mental health and wellbeing support to the automotive industry. At Copart, we offer teammates experiencing any mental health related issues access to confidential advice and support services, alongside formal training of our managers to ensure we are there when needed. Copart’s success means we are always recruiting for a wide range of roles - so if you are seeking your next career opportunity then we’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re a HGV driver, a customer service professional, a marketing expert, or a finance whizz…why not check out our current vacancies at copart.co.uk/jobs or drop us a line!

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Community Tent

12:00 - ALEXIS ROBERTS POETRY WITH ALEXIS - SELF IDENTIFIED INTERSEX, TRANSGENDER, DYSLEXIC ARTIST WHO WRITES HER OWN POETRY.

12:20 - RELAXATION WITH RYNO NEL GAY SPIRITUAL & HOLISTIC PRACTITIONER WHO WILL BE USING GENTLE GUIDED MEDITATION TO RELAX YOU.

13:00 - QUEER PARENTING PARTNERSHIP PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO GENDER NEUTRAL POST NATAL CARE, ADVICE FOR PARENTS WISHING TO RE LOOK AT GENDERED PARENTING.

13:40 - SARAH HAGGER - HOLT AUTHOR OF CHILDREN BOOKS INCLUDING (PROUD OF ME) & (NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE) THESE SHARE STORIES OF LGBTQ+ FAMILIES. ALSO GUIDES FOR PARENTS OF DIVERSE FAMILIES WITH SUPPORTIVE & PRACTICAL ADVICE.

14:10 - AMY KATE CARTER AUTHOR (HELLO WORLD I’M AMY KATE) A WITTY AND HEART WRENCHING, COMPLETELY HONEST ACCOUNT OF TRANSITION.

14.45 - JUDE NON BINARY PUBLIC SPEAKER, MODEL FOR HARRODS BEAUTY & VOGUE, MENTAL & PHYSICAL HEALTH ADVOCATE, TRANS AWARENESS TRAINER. AUTHOR OF (BECOMING JUDE).

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Community Tent

15:20 - TYLER HATWELL TRAVELLERS PRIDE SOCIAL ACTIVIST FOR THE TRAVELLER AND SHOWMAN LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

15:55 - GRANT PINNEY COUNTY FUNERALS PROVIDING ADVICE FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN RELATION TO FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS AND MAKING SURE YOUR WISHES ARE MET.

16.30PM - MK WOMEN’S CHOIR RAISING THEIR VOICES TO SUPPORT THIS YEARS PRIDE.

17:05 - MK COLLEGE STUDENT PANEL - YOUNG PEOPLE DISCUSS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LGBTQ+ IN MK.

17:40 - (MR GAY WALES) PAUL DAVIES LGBTQ+ AND DISABILITY ADVOCATE, PREVIOUS REDCOAT WITH PLENTY OF LAUGHS BUT ALSO SHARES A SERIOUS MESSAGE ABOUT HOW THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY COULD SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BETTER.

18:00 - SANDY FLAPS DRAG CHILDREN’S MAGICAL ENTERTAINER, OUR LOCAL QUEEN WHO HAS LOTS OF MAGIC & LAUGHS WITH MAYBE A LITTLE CHILDREN SING-ALONG TO END THE DAY!

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PRIDE SITE MAP REUNITE POINT FIRST AID - MEDICAL SERVICES EMERGENCY EXITS MAIN ENTRANCE & EXIT TOILETS Mobiloo / Accessibility Accessibility HYDRATION STATION PRIDE VILLAGE

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BREWDOG

Craft beer, community and sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at BrewDog. We currently run four breweries and over 100 bars across the world, and are proud to be carbon negative. This means we take twice as much carbon out of the atmosphere as we emit across our business. We champion quality in every glass of beer we brew and our awesome crew are on-hand to help you find a new favourite. We’re particularly proud of our food menu of which 50% is plant-based, so that everyone can enjoy it with us. Our bars have ever-changing line-ups of exciting monthly events, from new beer launches to partnerships with local breweries. Our bars are safe havens for anyone looking to kick back and spend some time. We’ve been a part of the Milton Keynes community since 2018 and are excited to be collaborating with Pride as we believe in craft beer for all people. We constantly strive for diversity, equality and inclusivity, and we have a zero-tolerance policy for abusive behaviour or harassment of any kind. Pride is something to be celebrated and our bars will always be a safe and inclusive place for everyone all year round. www.brewdog.com Facebook @brewdogmiltonkeynes Instagram @brewdogmiltonkeynes Twitter @brewdogmk

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the centre:mk centre:mk are extremely proud to be providing a pop-up volunteer hub at the centre as part of a larger programme of sponsorship aimed at ensuring our Volunteers can refuel and recharge during a busy MKPF festival programme. For more than 40 years centre:mk has been helping to create a connected and inclusive community while increasing its appeal in the region as the shopping and leisure destination of choice. Its success has led it to playing a key role in the economic prosperity of the city. Their support for the cultural and charitable sector is significant with headline sponsorship of Milton Keynes International Festival, over a £1m raised for the community Foundation through the iconic car raffle and 200 days of events in Middleton Hall from War Games, to Handmade and Vintage and the UK’s largest indoor Grotto. At the heart of the centre sits a team of over 4,000 employees across a wide range of brands, café’s restaurants and independent traders who welcome a visiting footfall of over 24m people a year, reflecting a diverse range of age, ethnicity, gender, and belief. Being in partnership with MKPF reflects their drive to ensure centre:mk remains at the heart of a wonderfully diverse community. Their support makes a real positive change in promoting, improving visibility, and enabling LGBTQ+ people to live in Milton Keynes and be proud of who they are and the role they play in defining Milton Keynes.

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RAINBOW MARKET

Milton Keynes Pride Festival are thrilled to be working with Milton Keynes Hand Made & Vintage to bring you the ‘Rainbow Market’ A one of a kind shopping experience complimenting our fabulous Pride Festival. Shop small and local businesses, artisans & high quality independents who are members of, or allies to, the LGBTQ+ community. From homeware and decor, to pottery and art, gorgeous accessories and handmade jewellery, unusual gifts and scrumptious treats. Don’t forget to visit our rainbow market!

FOOD VILLAGE When it comes to food and drink, Milton Keynes Pride Festival has something for everyone. The food village specialises in all kinds of street food, catering for a wide range of tastes, from vegan, vegetarian, chinese, pizzas, burgers, hotdogs & much more. For those with a sweet tooth indulge in freshly made churros and doughnuts! Enjoy a drink from one of our festival bars while listening to some of our fabulous artists across two stages.

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ROBSKI ART My name is Rob Sexton, I am an independent artist and proud member of the LGBTQ community of Milton Keynes. I aim to produce artwork with a sense of humour; something fun, kitsch, camp and occasionally sexy. I want to produce artwork and clothing that LGBTQ people want to wear, clothing we can’t buy from bland boring high-street shops. Clothing that is firmly tongue in cheek, with a strong homo-centric queer sensibility. Featuring glittery gay themes from golden girls to kinky leather daddies and everything in between! I created RobskiArt just over 4 and a half years ago after going to a bear club night in London (Beefmince @the RVT) and having such an amazing time I wanted to get involved and help out. I started doing online and print promotion work for Beefmince which led to a some Beefmince T-shirt designs. I got such a kick out of seeing people wearing my artwork I decided I wanted to do it more… and RobskiArt was born. I have been privileged to sell my artwork internationally and people have worn my T-shirt designs to Pride events in USA, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Austria, German and Spain, which really gives me great joy. As well as T-shirts, homewares and accessories, I’ve also started turning my artwork into fabric designs so people can make their own clothing from my art. Feel free to drop me a message or leave me feedback. I am always happy to speak with people about my artwork. Plus, I am available for commissions if you want something special created just for you. I also sew and create accessories and costumes… so I’m a proper crafty gay! Follow me to keep up with what I’m up to: Instagram: RobskiArt Facebook : Facebook.com/Robskiart Twitter: RobskiA And you can buy my artwork, t-shirts and more: www.RobskiArt.redbubble.com www.teepublic.com/robskiart www.spoonflower.com/profiles/robskiart

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musication

Musication is a music school based in Milton Keynes and Leighton Buzzard, A school created that doesn’t just teach…. it inspires, showing people of all ages that it is possible to play and instrument and be creative. Musication has an impeccable track record, with its students achieving and succeeding in a way that is fun and enjoyable. Whether you wanted to grade on an instrument or just play for fun Musication is at the top of its field offering a service that is unrivalled in its approach. Musication also runs a support arts based service for young people in the community with SEN needs, offering music therapy and art based learning. Giving them the skills and care to be themselves and achieve what they want to in their lives.

22 studios 22 studios is a Female LGBTQI+ run Rehearsal and recording studio based in Leighton Buzzard, with a rich history going back 17 years. The studio now boasts and complete refurbishment bringing the studio to the highest professional level for all artists, the studio is a place that inspires artists to create and feel comfortable. The studio offers, 2 plush rehearsal spaces fully equipped to the highest standards. A music shop selling everything a customer might need whilst rehearsing, A pro high spec recording studio 2 large live rooms, 2 small live rooms and a vocal booth and last and by no means least an artists lounge with comfortable seating, TV, and entertainment for artists whilst recording at the studio. The ethos of the studio is that all artists deserve the best no matter how big or small, giving them the opportunity to be the musicians they want to be. 22 studios is already making its mark on the local music scene, and so much further. Creating not just a business but a family, always giving that bit extra to make anyone’s stay at the studio one to remember. We are excited and delighted to be supporting Milton Keynes Pride Festival offering stage equipment and back line for the stages.

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Woughton Community Council As the council of the year and covering one of the most diverse parishes in Milton Keynes, Woughton Community Council is proud to be a part of PRIDE; supporting all in our community to be proud of who they are and who they love. We are actively committed to inclusivity and diversity and have been privileged to host the Q:alliance Youth Services for many years now. So we were thrilled to support PRIDE:MK 2019 and the phenomenally successful event that it was. Like everyone we were disappointed that Covid prevented celebrating in 2020. So, we are especially excited that Milton Keynes PRIDE Festival is back, even bigger & better! Cllr Donna Fuller shared that “Woughton are incredibly proud to be a part of PRIDE, we believe that anything that works towards inclusivity, to increase understanding and dispel misunderstanding is vital to build a better society”. And speaking as a citizen said, “I went with my little boy and we had the best time, It was a wonderful day with such a lovely atmosphere and we wouldn’t miss it for the world!”.

Jnrs Keith Emmett & Sons (Jnrs Events) is a family run business. We have over 150 years of experience in the funfair and leisure industry and are renowned for presenting Milton Keynes largest free fireworks display to the public. We have been involved in many different events all over the country but take the most pride in our local events in Milton Keynes. Our passion is to create a truly unforgettable experience at every event, our amusements and activities provide thrills and endless excitement for everyone. Director Keith Emmett JNR said “We’re proud to support Pride in Milton Keynes and it reflects our commitment to create a caring, inclusive culture where everyone is able to be themselves and reach their full potential. Our family are extremely proud of my Gay Son and all of his volunteer work for Pride and the LGBTQ+ community of Milton Keynes” Keith Emmett III

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PRIDE VILLAGE

12th STREET Drag & Cabaret Stage Sponsor 12th Street, Milton Keynes’ premier location for leisure and entertainment is pleased to be partnering with Milton Keynes Pride Festival in 2021 supporting the LGBTQ+ and wider community in Milton Keynes and beyond. 12th Street provides 20 amazing operators to delight and entertain visitors ranging from many types of cuisines in its restaurants, to bars, pubs and micro-breweries. 12th Street also features a wide range of entertainment from adventure golf, escape rooms through to gaming and virtual reality centres. We are delighted to be the (Official After Party) location for MKPF providing something for everyone from restaurants and entertainment ideal for families through to safe and exciting late, night venues for those wanting to really party. The scheme will be lit up in rainbow colours to welcome attendees at MKPF and as a signal of our support for this part of our wider community.

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Come & join us! September 11th.

MK Community Foundation

MK Community Foundation is proud to support Milton Keynes Pride Festival as their Accessibility Partner. We are committed to funding fairness, supporting communities across Milton Keynes and championing diversity. We see Milton Keynes Pride Festival as a hugely important date in the local events calendar. The facilities that have been put in place to make it as inclusive and accessible as possible are fantastic and will enable so many people to enjoy celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk Facebook @mkcommunityfoundation Instagram @mkcomfoundation Twitter @mkcomfoundation

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PRIDE YOUTH HUB Milton Keynes PRIDE festival is passionate about responding to the needs the community has told us are important. We know that LGBTQ+ young people are a particularly vulnerable part of our community who may not have the freedom or agency to access support, information and advocacy. PRIDE as an event, is so proud to offer an exciting, safe, celebration of who these young people believe themselves to be. We will have a designated PRIDE YOUTH HUB at the festival this year where youth work professionals can be found to talk to, connect young people to others, provide information and signpost to other services. Our Youth Ambassador will be there all day alongside representatives from Terence Higgins Trust for sexual health, YIS mental Health & wellbeing specialists, MK College, MKDons Set, Q Alliance Youth team and our very own drag queen. Young people can talk to us about anything or just come say hello and connect with others. Our Youth Ambassador Tash Darling said “We have worked tirelessly behind the scenes all year round to develop strong relationships across the city that enable us to offer genuine opportunities, reliable information and committed advocacy to the LGBTQ+ youth of Milton Keynes on an on-going basis. We want to celebrate the young people at the festival but we are equally passionate about the legacy of the PRIDE, so we support new youth network groups in schools, college and work places, champion campaigns like Rainbow Laces and teachers & GP training. We work face-to face with Q Alliance and youth from across MK to create publications and performances written by young people for young people. Working in partnership has been key and remains a priority. “We’re stronger & happier when we journey together”!

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Official Pride Supporter

We are extremely grateful to all who have purchased an Official Pride Supporter Sticker.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US! GRAND UNION HOUSING CRAWFORD HAIR ELLIS BRIGHAM ELANELE BBD THE LAKE VIEW SOUL 2 SOLE MRS B’S EMPORIUM SHOWTIME CIRCUS SALON BEYOUTIFUL WEST BLETCHLEY COUNCIL MK COLLEGE

HOUSE OF DOUGH MK THEATRE SIMPLY RACE CARMELO ALESSI SLUG & LETTUCE FLYING TIGER BLOSSOM ROOM MAAYA HEALTH WATCH BANANA TREE DEM SOCKS

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS!

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The Milton Keynes Pride Festival Team

THE Team HELEN PRITCHARD – COMMUNITY MANAGER KEITH EMMETT – EVENT MANAGER LEE KAYE – EVENT SUPERVISOR CHARLENE CARR – ENTERTAINMENT MANAGER TAMMY SYDEE – STAGE SUPERVISOR TASH DARLING – SAFEGUARDING LEAD Lucie Omar – VOLUNTEER MANAGER EMMA MURPHY – Graphics

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PROGRAM SPONSOR

2021

MILTON KEYNES PRIDE FESTIVAL