Hebden Bridge Pride

“I was living in a bubble in this great community and then a piece of graffiti popped that bubble and I realised there was still homophobia in this community despite the media portraying it as the lesbian capital of the country”.

So speaks Mike Stephens, Hebden Bridge resident and Chair of the newly formed Happy Valley Pride.

The graffiti in question was a daubing describing someone as a “gay boy”.

“I realised that the minute we stop celebrating LGBTQ culture, homophobia will rise” explains Stephens as he talks to me about the latest Pride event to enter the LGBTQ calendar. Stephens is ably assisted by local artist, David Kennedy (Vice Chair), Darren Spruce (Company Secretary) and John Spencer (Treasurer).

The charity opened amid much publicity in March with local hero and renowned TV writer, Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango In Halifax) and Councillor James Fearon cutting the ribbon in front of a packed Machpelah Mill. The capacity is usually around 150 but over 300 people turned up, showing the admirable strength in community that Hebden Bridge boasts.

“We were unsure what the community would say” confesses Stephens but the response has been admirable allowing the team to put the foundations in place for the first festival which will take place from 8 th August to 14 th August.

The charity intends to use art as a medium to reach out to schools and youth groups to teach tolerance and awareness of LGBTQ issues. The first stage was to take the catalyst graffiti and Kennedy, along with other local artists, turned it from the negative to the positive, surrounding it in images, then taking it a step further on the launch night by asking attendees to write messages of support.

Whilst the event calendar is by no means complete, the busy team have already secured a music night at local venue Trades Club with a guest performer whose identity will be revealed in due course. The wonderful Hebden Bridge Picture House are showing three LBGTQ films over the week, Holding The Man (8/8), The Girl King (11/8) and My Own Private Idaho (13/8).

There will be a poetry festival at DRINK and also Nelson’s Wine Bar will host an art exhibition for a month where artists will donate pieces of art which will be sold off to raise funds for the organisation. The team are looking for poetry and art if you are that way inclined. Also, the charity are looking for Trustees and Volunteers, “essentially we are looking for anyone who has time to spare or specialist skills and wants to get involved with our organisation” explains Stephens “Anyone interested can reach out to us via email or social media”.

If you are more of the participative nature, a visit to Hebden Bridge is worth it at any time of year, only 40 min train ride from town, why not have a day out in the country? If you want to make a weekend out of it, there are limited B&Bs and also campsites in the area.

For more information, please visit www.happyvalleypride.com or via their Facebook page.

By Chris Park for Canal St Online

Published: 19-May-2016: (3726)