Local NHS colleagues showed their support for the LGBTQ+ community at this year’s Stockport Pride celebrations in the town centre.
Staff from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Stepping Hill Hospital and local community NHS services, set out the stall alongside many others in the market hall showing the support they offer for LGBTQ+ colleagues and patients, and promoting recruitment opportunities that the trust has to offer.
Stockport NHS Charity also present showing their support too, who also held a fundraising raffle. There was also a glitter bar at the stall adding glamour to the proceedings.
Many others were out too for Stockport Pride, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex community. The day included a colourful parade through the town centre which was joined by NHS colleagues.
Entertainment for the day was hosted by drag duo The Vegan Queens, with appearances including Prairie Dogs – the longest running non-profit LGBTQ+ line dancing club in the UK, and singers including Jsky, Xander, and Rowetta, formerly of the Happy Mondays and X Factor.
This was a joyous celebration of diversity, but there was solidarity also for those who suffered the effects of the horrific terrorist attack on Berlin Pride earlier in the weekend. Violent prejudice of this kind shows the importance of why Pride is still so much needed and important.
Stuart McKenna, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Assistant Director of Human Resources (Inclusion and Colleague Experience) said “Stockport Pride is always a great event, and as always our NHS colleagues were proud to be part of it, and to show that we will always aim to create an inclusive environment for our LGBTQ+ colleagues and the local community.
It was huge fun as always, but as the terrible events in Berlin showed the ongoing struggles against prejudice towards the community are very real. We will always show our solidarity, allyship and support.”
Thanks to photographer Amelie Keenan-Smith for additional pictures.
