Bourne Free - Bournemouth's Pride Festival

Bourne Free, Bournemouth's Pride Festival have announced that they will be taking over the seaside resort for another weekend of Pride, taking place on Friday 9th until Sunday 11th of July 2010!

Even more is planned for 2010, with the Bourne Free Committee already working hard to put together a packed programme of entertainment and has finalised details of a unique new theme.

It has been announced that the theme for 2010 is “Wild, Wild West”. Expect to see all of the hillarity that any Wetern movie could expect... cowboys and cowgirls, outrageous red-Indians, and even the odd pantomime horse for good measure.

Pete Lovegrove, Chairman, comments "every year Bourne Free gets bigger and better and 2010 will be no exception". He adds, "this year being Bournemouth’s 200th year we are planning a great event right in the heart of the town to encourage everyone to join in the celebration of diversity that Bournemouth has to offer."

Photos Copyright © BBC Dorset

Between the 10th - 12th July 2009, Bournemouth Bourne Free Pride festival saw big changes for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans) community.

The 2009 event attracted thousands of people from across the UK with the “Circus” themed parade around the town. As the lower gardens was no longer large enough to accommodate the sheer volume of people who wish to celebrate their Pride. With this in mind Bournemouth chose to move the main focus to the Triangle (the towns Gay Village). Not least is the twelve hour twelve hour street Party held within. Other Highlights included the most popular acts from previous year's jazz concert, who joined a brand new Launch Night, a great line up of performers, from singers and musicians to drag artists and circus acts.

However the beautiful Lower Gardens where not abandoned, with another new element to the weekend being introduced, a special Family Funday on Sunday 12th July. There was music and games for all the family to enjoy, children's face painting, entertainers, and presented an ideal setting for a leisurely picnic.

2008's Parade was hailed as a resounding success (being the first of its kind in Bournemouth).

The last eight years have seen this Pride event go from strength to strength. Themes have included "Support Our Services" (2008) and "by the sea" (2007). Last year spectators along the promenade watched as local groups and a huge 30 metre rainbow flag travelled past to the sounds of classic camp pop. A host of top cabaret performers entertained over 3,500 people in the Lower Gardens and Bournemouth Town Hall flew the Rainbow Flag for a second year to support the Bourne Free Pride Festival. The mayor of Bournemouth made a special appearance at the Live Show during the afternoon.

One thing is sure... 2009 will be a veritable feast of entertainment and, perhaps more importantly, a sense of accomplishment for the Bourne free committee and the LGBTQ community as a whole!

Bourne Free Pride is a stunning example of why, even in the 21st Century, Pride is so important in ANY community. Bourne Free was originally set up in 2002 when a far right organisation was due to come to Bournemouth and preach that homosexuality was wrong. Prominent figures and active members of the gay communities in the area came together to organise an event to protect the LGBTQ community from anti-pride activists and keep them together for a day of celebration, rather than hostility.

In just a few weeks a Pride Party was organised in the Lower Gardens to highlight the discontent of the local LGBTQ community. Though under a cloud, the event proved to be remarkably light hearted, with entertainers performing at The Bandstand to support diversity. The main shadow that hung over the event was aptly highlighted with a balloon release combined with a 2 minute silence for victims of hate crime (not to mention Bournemouth's first Gay Pride march).