Durham Pride has become a cornerstone of the city’s inclusive spirit – a celebration of LGBT life, history, and community. But with recent news that the council has cut funding, it’s worth asking: Why does Pride matter in 2025?
Pride events like Durham’s play a vital role in celebrating LGBT identities, promoting inclusion, and providing safe spaces – especially in less visible communities. They educate the public, boost the local economy through tourism and business, and improve mental health by fostering belonging and visibility.
In my view, cutting council support not only undermines these benefits but sends a harmful message that equality is optional, not essential.
The decision to cut funding for Durham Pride is damaging on several fronts. By dismissing Pride as “political street theatre,” decades of LGBT activism is trivialised, suggesting that inclusion is a cultural choice rather than a civil right. The impact of this falls hardest on smaller, community-led events like Durham Pride, which rely on public support to ensure accessibility and safety.
This move disregards widespread local backing and undermines Durham’s reputation as an inclusive, welcoming place. All of these factors risk both social division and economic harm.
What you missed during Durham Pride 2025
This year’s Durham Pride was a vibrant and fun affair — a mix of food, music, colour, and community. The Sands was filled with people in glitter and flags, people on fairground rides, and stalls offering everything from local crafts to face painting. There were performers, student groups, and charities all celebrating side by side. It felt open, safe, and, ultimately, it was a really fun day.
Sometimes it’s just about people having a nice, ordinary, beautiful day together that’s most important.
We Are Still Here: Durham Pride fundraising event
Durham Pride has announced a major fundraising event in response to the decision to cut its funding. It’s set to take place at Redhills, Durham Miners’ Hall, on 5th September 2025, starting at 6:30pm.
The event includes a special screening of the award-winning film Pride, which tells the story of the 1984 alliance between striking miners and LGBT+ activists. Tickets are available now through the Redhills and Durham Pride websites.
The evening will also feature a panel discussion with former miners, politicians, and special guest Mike Jackson, the co-founder of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners.
Chair of Durham Pride, Mel Metcalf, said: “The film is about standing united in the face of prejudice – capturing what many thought was Thatcher’s assault on mining communities to the injustice of Section 28. Today, as a new and growing prejudice threatens our trans siblings, it is again the Durham Miners and the trade union movement that stands with us.”
Here’s what Durham students had to say
Meg and Michaela, the co-presidents of Durham Queer Sphere, told The Durham Tab: “Queer Sphere, Durham’s LGBTQ+ Association, recognises that people deserve Pride as a place of community. Pride brings people together in joy and love, no matter their backgrounds.
“We ask that the Council reconsiders its position, and engages in dialogue with queer people who have been hurt by this decision. Queer Sphere aims to foster inclusion, and help Durham students stand against injustice.”
Rebecca, a third year student, spoke about the importance of a space that allows people to connect to others with similar experiences: “It gives students a space to be themselves and can help people meet others in the community!”
Melissa, who is also a third year student, said: “I think pride in Durham is important because if you’re not out to your friends and family at home, being able to openly celebrate who you are amongst a new community of people, many of whom are your age, feels like a coming home.”
Some statistics from our Durham Pride Survey
While this piece is largely opinion, I was interested to see what other students thought of these comments. We put out a simple yes/no poll to gauge student reactions and perspectives on Durham Pride in light of these comments.
In a recent snap survey of 34 Durham students and recent grads, 88.2 per cent disagreed with Darren’s claim that Pride has lost relevance and ceased to remain a “celebration of gay rights.” Of those who had actually attended Durham Pride recently, nearly all described it as meaningful and necessary. This isn’t a fringe cause — it’s a widely valued part of student and city life.
The political climate surrounding Durham Pride
It’s no coincidence that Darren Grimes’ recent statements were made among a chorus of pro-England, anti-rainbow, and anti-Pride rhetoric. In today’s political climate, the English flag is too often deployed not as a symbol of shared identity, but as a warning against difference – used to intimidate and marginalise rather than foster connection. Recent news of England flags (or Danish flags…) painted in public spaces sends a clear message that other ways of being are not welcome.
I fear that Darren’s argument isn’t simply favouring one cultural expression over another; instead, it positions them as fundamentally incompatible. By actively championing the English flag while dismissing and undermining Pride, it seems the message being sent is that these two identities cannot coexist. That to be proudly English, one must reject diversity, queerness, and the freedoms that come with being fully oneself.
Events like Durham Pride are about more than parades or rainbow flags – they represent visibility, belonging, and the right to feel safe in your own community. Attempts to defund or dismiss them are not neutral decisions; they are acts that strengthen division and make it harder for LGBT people to live openly and fearlessly.
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Featured image via Canva
