Rain doesn’t dampen Pride parade’s spirits
DESPITE dull and damp weather, hundreds of people turned out for Shetland’s second Pride parade this morning.
Crowds began to muster at the Market Cross for 10.30am with the parade kicking off at 11am.
Hundreds of people gathered along Commercial Street along with a truck of drag queens, Bigton samba band and the Shetland branches of organisations including Girl Guiding, Samaritans, Unison, Royal College of Midwives and the Educational Institute of Scotland.
The parade made its way along Da Street, Commercial Road and then up Burgh Road to Gilbertson Park.
The celebrations are set to continue there this afternoon until 5pm, with music, food and stalls inside the games hall.
Cameron Ritchie, 20, from Aith, volunteered as a parade marshal earlier today.
He said: “Seeing all the bright colours and all the happiness, it’s amazing.
“I am looking very forward to [the rest of the day], it’s going to be fun, it’s going to be chaos and of course it’s going to be very gay.”
Niko Crow, 17, from Sumburgh, also took part in the parade.
“My experience today has been absolutely amazing,” he told Shetland News. “It’s genuinely brilliant to see such a positive place… loads of places haven’t been 100 per cent accepting [of the LGBT+ community] until recently.
“It’s just amazing to see so many people here and see that everybody is comfortable being here now.”
The evening party will take place at Isleburgh tonight, with local bands and drag queens performing.
Shetland News caught up with drag queens Tianah Tucker and Miss Lily Minogue, who both travelled from Glasgow for the event.
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“I was here last year and it was fabulous,” said Lily. “It’s absolutely amazing to be back, it’s buzzing, the atmosphere is great.”
“It’s my first time here, it’s really, really cold!” Tianah laughed. “But everyone’s warm personalities are making up for it.”
The queens said they are “very excited” to perform tonight.
“We’re bringing some killer numbers over from the mainland,” said Tianah.
Tonight’s entertainment will begin at 8pm.
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