NEWS: Oxford Pride Announces Launch Party

<p>On Friday 30th May, Oxford Pride will be celebrating the start of a ten-day festival celebrating, informing and empowering Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) life across Oxfordshire. The launch party takes place at the Oxford Beach, in conjunction with The Big Bang, which plays host to this years’ Pride Arts Exhibition, on the theme of ‘Role Models’. The event runs from 6-9pm, and features live entertainment, speeches, a BBQ and cocktails.</p> <p>by Newsdesk | 28th May 2014</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4591994770.jpg" width="460" height="309" alt="" title=""/></p> <p></p><p>Read more ...</p><p></p><p>The Oxford Pride Festival encompasses a diverse array of events taking place across Oxford. The opening weekend sees the launch party, LGBT history workshops and walks, arts events, discussions, and a dog show. Throughout the week there are quizzes, book clubs, club nights, social gatherings, and parade workshops.</p><p></p><p>Saturday 7th June sees the main Pride event, kicking off with a parade through the city at mid-day, leading to the field event, with 8 hours of live entertainment through the afternoon and into the early evening, with after parties running into the early hours. Sunday closes the festival week with the start of a series of Trans Cinema at The Phoenix Picturehouse, exploring themes of gender, identity and the reception of trans characters.</p><p></p><p>A full listing of festival events is available on the <a href="http://www.oxford-pride.org.uk/">Oxford Pride website</a>, and in the Pride Guide, which can be picked up from locations around Oxfordshire.</p><p></p><p>Oxford Pride is proud to have the support of Unite the Union South East this year, receiving invaluable help in organising the event. John Rowse, Regional Secretary of Unite the Union South East says:</p><p>'Oxford Pride is an important opportunity for all of us to put out the message that ensuring equality in the workplace and society is perhaps the most important guarantee of Human Rights in a world where prejudice and intolerance is on the rise. Despite great leaps forward in industrialised countries, intolerance and prejudice is only under the surface and in many parts of the world it is literally a matter of life and death.</p><p></p><p>'That is why the Regional Committee of Unite the Union in the South East will continue to sponsor and actively support events like Oxford Pride across the Region and sends everyone our best wishes for great day on the 7th June.</p><p></p><p>'Please visit our Regional LGBT webpages on <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/">www.unitetheunion.org</a> website and clicking on "Regions" in the panel at the bottom of the page to see the activities and events we are involved with.'</p><p></p><p>ALSO READ: </p><p><a href="http://thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/Oxford-Pride-Announces-Pride-Events-and-Headline-Acts/8047198">Oxford Pride Announces Pride Events and Headline Acts</a></p><p><a href="http://thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/TheGayUK-The-Largest-Media-Sponsor-Of-UK-Gay-Prides/8147984">TheGayUK - the UK's biggest media sponsorer of Gay Prides</a></p><p></p><p>THEME: ‘Role Models’</p><p>DATES: OXFORD PRIDE 30th May - 8th June 2014</p><p>Festival: Friday May 30th - Sunday June 8th 2014 Launch: Friday May 30th 2014</p><p>Parade & Fair Day Event: Saturday 7th June 2014</p><p> </p>