Harborough Retailers Show Support For Pride Month

Over 70 shops and businesses in Market Harborough and the District Council are showing their support for Pride month which begins today.

Retailers are displaying rainbow flags in their premises, while the Progress Pride Flag has been raised on top of the Symington Building.

Lights outside there and on The Square will also illuminate multi-coloured during June, to support and celebrate LGBTQ+ communities.

The Progress Pride Flag is flying on top of the Symington Building

Cllr Geraldine Whitmore, the council’s Cabinet lead for Culture, Leisure, Economy and Tourism, said: “We are delighted local businesses are joining us to support LGBTQ+ communities.

“Together our aim is to raise awareness of this important month and continue to progress the attitudes of society and encourage inclusiveness.”

Pride Month in June is dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and ace) communities all around the world.

Pride originated in the United States, in 1969, when the Stonewall riots took place in June of that year (the Stonewall riots being protests that changed gay rights for a lot of people in America and around the world).

As well as being a month to celebrate progress in LGBTQ+ rights, Pride is also an opportunity to promote the need for further education and awareness of issues that still affect people within the LGBTQ+ communities, including discrimination and homophobia.