COVID-19 and the continuing restrictions means there will not be a Pride parade in Galway this summer, filling the city's streets with colour and joyfulness, but the need for advocacy, activism, and community spirit remains as important as ever.
That is where Pride Inside comes in - a brand new virtual Pride Week festival, taking place online from Saturday July 11 to Sunday 19. The event is a collaboration between Galway Community Pride, Kerry Pride, Mayo Pride, Sligo Pride, Limerick Pride, Killarney Pride, and Black Pride Ireland. The Galway events will also see GCP working with the Galway Film Fleadh to host LGBT+ film screenings this weekend.
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"Pride Inside represents the solidarity community groups across the country are demonstrating, in order to give back to the community like never before," says Galway Community Pride chair Scott Green. "Pride Inside is a grassroots passion project. By the community, for the community."
'We couldn’t let this year go without bringing a little joy to the colourful LGBT family in Ireland'
Pride Inside was created by Morgan Queeney, former chairperson of Galway Pride, and current chair of Kerry Pride. “Pride Inside is a much needed event that people can enjoy from the safety of their own homes, for free," they said. "It’s not Pride without our community, and we couldn’t let this year go without bringing a little joy to the colourful LGBT family in Ireland. Open a zoom room with some friends and experience Pride together!”
What's happening for Pride
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Pride Inside will, according to Morgan Queeney, contain "show stopping acts; educational, impassioned panels; shoutouts from familiar faces, quizzes, and online tutorials"
It kicks off on this Saturday, July 11, with Limerick Pride's virtual parade followed by a Pridefest Blocparty (see Facebook.com/limerickpride ); while the Galway Film Fleadh will screen LGBT+ films on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 (for more see www.galwayfilmfleadh.com ).
Sunday 12 will see Anseo agus Aiteach, a queer chat as Gaeilge; Cuppa T, a chat show hosted by drag queen Tina D; and a Queer Eye Netflix party.
Monday 13 kicks off with a fitness and dance online class; followed by an LGBT+ art and expression panel; a mental health and resilience panel; and a Disclosure Netflix party, on the magnificent new documentary on transgender actors and the struggle for acceptance.Tuesday 14 features another fitness and dance party; followed by a Bi+ community panel and a Black Pride panel; and closing with a Netflix Party where attendees will watch one of the best TV series of recent years - Pose. Set in 1980s New York, it deals with the African-American drag scene, transgender issues, and AIDs.
Wednesday 15th will see an online Yoga class followed by an online embroidery class. The day's discussion panel will be entitled We're Here, We're Queer and We're Rural, and the day concludes with a Netflix Party celebrating A Secret Love.Thursday 16 starts with Zumba; followed by a sexual health panel; and a Trans and Non Binary identity panel; and concluding with live stream performance.
Friday 17 begins with Yoga; followed by a Coming Out workshop; then a Queer Belonging talk; followed by an LGBT+ quiz and a live performance.
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Saturday 18 begins with a Pride in Our Country panel featuring people from across Ireland; later there will be a party with performances and prizes, ending with a DJ set live.
Pride Inside concludes on Sunday 19 with an online cooking class; queer Dungeons & Dragons; an online painting class; a second instalment of Anseo agus Aiteach, before the event is closed by A Cuppa T with Tina D.
For more information see Galway Community Pride on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
