Margate Pride 2022

Walpole Aquathlon is a community event in its 2nd year and this year we are raising money for MARGATE PRIDE 2022!

Up to 50 local swim and run enthusiasts do either a 700m or 1500m swim in Walpole Bay Tidal pool, then straight in to either a 5km or 10km run along the coast to Botany Bay. We have entrants of all levels taking part, from the once a year have a go crew to the hardcore athletes out to smash the full distance. We also have teams of swimmers and runners partnering up so that everyone can get involved. With the wonderful Margate community out to cheer on our athletes while they sweat it out to earn your donations, its a brilliant day for an amazing cause!

FUNDRAISING

Although Margate Pride has managed to hold safe in-person events over the past two years, despite the obvious obstacles, we CANNOT WAIT to present the parade to the town and its guests again! It has grown rapidly since Pride's inception 7 years ago and was abruptly cut short in 2020. We look forward to seeing the thousands of faces lining the streets, the buildings decorated, along with all the parties and gatherings again as a celebration of love and acceptance.

The parade, and all the activities ls in the lead-up are busy being planned now including workshops, socials, screenings, Art Trail programming, commissions, heritage projects and community work. Though the Pride team volunteer their time year-round, there are many costs that need to be covered including artists, performers, producers, road closures & licences, insurance, traffic management, venue hire, security, sound & tech, staging, St. John's Ambulance and more.

We are very grateful to Lou and all the Walpole Aquathlon participants for supporting Margate Pride. THANK YOU!

ABOUT MARGATE PRIDE

Margate Pride CIC is a culture and arts-led pride, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ life and a platform to continue the fight for equality and to challenge prejudice.

Set up in 2016 as a Community Interest Company (CIC)

Organised by a team of year-round volunteers

Week long queer culture and arts-festival leading up to Pride weekend with year-round activity and partnerships

Arts programme to provide a platform for celebrating and nurturing the best LGBTQIA+ artists

Margate Pride is not just a parade for the day. It’s an expression of the whole community.

Legacy building activity in Margate and Thanet

Community partnered projects including with Ageless Thanet, BeYou Project

MISSION

To promote the visibility of Margate’s LGBTQIA+ community by delivering inclusive, safe and enjoyable annual Pride celebrations in Margate and beyond

VISION

Margate Pride envisions a world in which all LGBTQIA+ people live safely and openly as our whole selves in the communities we call home.

Be fully inclusive of all sections of the LGBTQIA+ community

Provide the most accessible a Pride as possible

Zero tolerance of racism, sexism, ableism, ageism

Provide a celebration of LGBTQIA+ life and a platform to continue the fight for equality and to challenge prejudice

Contribute to Margate and community cohesion

Establish Margate Pride on a sustainable footing and grow the festival over time to serve better the needs of Margate’s LGBTQIA+ community and promote Margate as a beacon to the world

To be a green pride, by reusing, recycling materials, sourcing ecological materials and partnering with organisations/individuals who share our values

Continued engagement throughout the year to enhance & affirm our local advocacy, by developing relationships with community groups, local businesses and individuals throughout Margate and beyond

Use arts & culture to celebrate expressions of diverse thoughts and identities

Everyone is welcome – it is everyone’s Pride. We are always learning.