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.
02 MILTON KEYNES PRIDE FESTIVAL