This year, I went to Belfast Pride – one of my favourite days of the year. I did my best to plan the day ahead of time, planning outfits and getting tickets for events. I had looked forward to it for such a long time! Belfast had also planned the day, with companies across the city hanging pride flags and decorations ahead of Saturday – the big day of the Pride Festival.

The theme of this year’s pride is “Stand By Your Trans”. This is both a celebration of trans people and a call for allyship and activism to protect trans people and to advance trans rights, where there is a great deal of work still to do.

^{Queen's celebrated Pride 2023 by hosting a picnic and joining the parade}

An amazing turnout

On the day, I was a bit apprehensive. The weather wasn’t great and as I headed down to the parade at 1pm it started to pour rain. And I mean POUR! Thankfully I had planned ahead and had brought ponchos and an umbrella. As I said, I like to be prepared! Whilst we were waiting (or hoping) that the weather would clear up, we took shelter in The Garrick, a pub just beside Belfast City Hall and had a few drinks to start off our day.

We were lucky that the weather fared just in time for the parade. The parade, as always, was amazing. A massive crowd gathered to see floats and groups marching. Represented were bars, pubs, clubs, charities, activists, universities (including our own), school and companies from across the country and beyond. It was reportedly the most groups they had ever had marching in the parade this year!

^{Queen's staff and students walking in the parade}

Union Street was buzzing

There were also talented performers and drag artists in the parade including Blu Hydrangea – Belfast’s very own winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs the World, and Ivy Profen, who is a Queen’s student. The parade was a great start to the day and put us in a really great mood before we headed to the Duke of York and then Union Street.

Union Street is at the very heart of Belfast’s Queer Quarter. This year at Pride, its two venues: Maverick and Union Street Bar were absolutely packed. There were queues to get onto the street itself, a DJ, performers, and a great crowd – all the makings of a great street party. We danced to the street DJ for a few hours. I’m not much of a dancer but that didn’t slow me down!

^{Partying in Belfast's "Queer Quarter"}

A sold out afterparty

Finally, my last stop of Pride was the Telegraph Building for “Taboo” – the official afterparty for Belfast Pride. Before that though we regrouped at McDonalds. This was very much needed as we were starving but equally just needed to sit down. We had been on our feet all day and this was a much needed break.

The tickets for the Telegraph Building were sold out ahead of time, so when we got in it was such a great atmosphere. It was a great way to close Pride 2023. I had such a great day and I recommend that if you’ve never been to Belfast Pride before, go next year. You won’t regret it!

^{An unforgettable afterparty}

Find out more

Queen's Pride Society

Support For LGBT Students

PRISM LGBT+ Staff Network

Patrick Doherty (He/Him) Fourth Year Undergraduate Medical Student | NI I'm a 21 year old currently in my fourth year of studying Medicine here at Queen's University Belfast. I was a school-leaver when I came to university, having went to school in Ballymena beforehand. I'm not sure what I'd like to do when I graduate although the idea of writing or medical education appeals to me.