Hundreds of people are set to gather in Cookstown on Saturday for the third ever Mid Ulster Pride parade.
The event follows on from the hugely successful Belfast Pride event last month, with Omagh also set to host its second Pride event later this year.
While it is the third running of the Mid Ulster Pride, it is just the second where the public will be able to come out to support LGBTQI+ rights as last year’s event was curtailed due to Covid 19.
The parade will kick off from Cookstown Community Centre and head on to Main Street through the Saturday market in the Co Tyrone town.
One of Mid Ulster Pride’s organisers Jake Turkington said the event was all about showing support for LGBT people in rural areas.
“This is our third event but our second where we are allowed to have the wider community involved,” Jake told MyTyrone.
“We’re really excited for it and this year we have received such great feedback from the wider community. You could really sense even a change in attitudes when going into shops and handing out flyers.
“Everyone seems really on board and ready for it. It’s wonderful to see because that’s our goal - to help make rural communities more accepting.
“We have to allow people to live and feel comfortable in themselves without the need of moving away to the city. It’s the case that many of the LGBTQI+ community tend to feel the need to do that to have a career or to live comfortably.
“Sometimes the city isn’t for them - they’re country people at heart.”
Volunteers and supporters will gather at the community centre at midday on Saturday, with the parade itself taking place between 1pm and 2pm.
“We have a load of charities setting up with lots of information and support for people as well. There will be a lot of music and comedy acts as well afterwards so it’s going to be a great day,” Jake added.
“Last year we had people who had moved away to London, Glasgow and other parts of the world who hadn’t been in the country in a decade come back to march in the event.
“It’s quite sweet to hear those stories and that’s our main goal. People who have been too scared to come back or feel like they’re not welcome back are now becoming more proud of where they’re from, to come home and see their mates.”
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