“We always say rest in peace. Why don’t we ever say live in peace?” Rarely has silence said more than during the minute’s remembrance at Manchester Pride’s annual vigil.
Manchester is a city that is unapologetically proud - and on no weekend is that said louder and more emphatically than Manchester Pride. But there is power behind the party, and after four days of truly emphatic and joyful celebrations that have taken over the whole city, Monday night is reserved to remember and to grieve.
This year, Manchester Pride’s vigil was based around the theme ‘March for Peace’, with calls for equality and kindness focusing particularly around refugees and trans people in the UK and around the world. Powerful voices from around the city came together to pay tribute to those we have lost to AIDs and suicide, among other causes, but also to draw attention to the issues still faced by LGBTQ+ people on a daily basis.
Neil Bartlett brought in the silent remembrance with a moving speech, remembering friends he has buried and urging the audience to live in peace - not just die in peace.
A moving tribute was paid to Dame Gracy, one of the founders of Manchester Pride. It’s difficult not to feel that they would have been choked up by the equally powerful and joyful celebrations the city has played host to this weekend.
Tonight was a special celebration and memorial, not just of what it is to be queer, or an ally, or proud, or joyful, but if all those things in connection with the spirit of being Mancunian. Manchester is a special place, and at Manchester Pride, its uniqueness becomes not just evident, but obvious.
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