The rainbow chased away the rain at York Pride 2017.
On an overcast day, the flags, colourful outfits and broad smiles brought colour and happiness to the city.
People of all ages – including students from every secondary school in York – gathered outside York Minster for the start of the parade.
Lord Mayor of York Barbara Boyce told them that most people do not care about the sexual orientation of others. She said:
Unfortunately, there are still those with prejudices I’m sad to say. But they are becoming fewer and fewer, and generally don’t reserve their bigotry for the gay community.
Cllr Boyce said she’d opened an exhibition about the history of LGBT issues in York Castle Museum which reminded us of times past when “perfectly decent, ordinary people were made to feel they had to keep their true selves as a guilty secret hidden from family, friends, employers and everyone they knew”.
She said we were fortunate to live in a beautiful place like York.
What makes a place truly beautiful are the hearts and minds and their openness, warmth and welcome, whatever the gender, colour, beliefs, abilities or sexuality of the people they encounter.
There were also speeches by the Rev Canon Michael Smith, of York Minster, and Baroness Featherstone, Lib Dem champion of same-sex marriage.
And they played the video message from Sir Ian McKellen, aka Gandalf.
The parade then moved off from the Minster and headed through the city for an afternoon of partying, food and music.
This took place at Knavesmire – where there was also an impromptu protest against the post-election decision by the Conservative Party to join in coalition with the Democratic Unionist Party, which is against gay marriage and other LGBT rights.
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thank you to @YorkPride it was an amazing day #LGBT #Pride #York ? pic.twitter.com/SnvSCHA44M
— Mei Wilshire (@MeiWilshire) June 10, 2017
Great to see colleagues from @theJRHT & @jrf_uk at York Pride, doing York proud!!! pic.twitter.com/wbHmBwWj2S
— Darran Bilton (@dalbydasher) June 10, 2017
My rainbow cat son had a great time dancing to the music @YorkPride #YorkPride pic.twitter.com/OSkyNtAlo1
— Serena (@misslolitalove) June 10, 2017
Brill parade through york. Well done to all that supported york pride . Seemed largest turnout in recent years. pic.twitter.com/GqbnbgHNdK
— Jim Wallace (@Walljk56) June 10, 2017
York Pride ?️? #HoldHandsWithPride #Raiseyourrainbow #YorkPride pic.twitter.com/byGwJqXxwE
— Sian Wilkinson (@sianwilky) June 10, 2017
YORK PRIDE pic.twitter.com/V0tqLAaO77
— kevinwadsworth (@Wadsworth4Kevin) June 10, 2017
Puppy's first pride helping out on the History Month stall at #YorkPride pic.twitter.com/ggEebjFccB
— York LGBT History (@yorklgbthistory) June 10, 2017
@IanMcKellen declares the York #Pride march to be awesome. Who am I to disagree? pic.twitter.com/X7QgNulaWX
— Tony Hipwell (@HIPsince1980) June 10, 2017
Having fun at York Pride go Fulford go pride!! pic.twitter.com/2xOYDL9gl3
— Fulford School PE (@fulfordschoolPE) June 10, 2017
York, sometimes you might be a bit messed up, but it's great to see such a massive turn out of all ages in support of the #Pride march pic.twitter.com/kpjVSculy1
— Val Burgess (@theatresnob) June 10, 2017
#york#pride in full flow ? pic.twitter.com/nDR9V4CsiM
— Abigail Scott Paul (@AbigailSPaul) June 10, 2017
At york pride ?️? pic.twitter.com/EFWns2Mtmk
— ? Jodie Ⓥ (@FoxxInATeaCup) June 10, 2017
Pride! @UniOfYork @ChemistryatYork pic.twitter.com/1QLs629OTJ
— David K Smith (@professor_dave) June 10, 2017
York is flying its #rainbowflag & making history today with every secondary school in the Pride March #YorkPride #York #Pride pic.twitter.com/81pyDwtAXL
— Hannah Swierstra (@HannahSwierstra) June 10, 2017
? ? Raise your rainbows high – it's #YorkPride @YorkPride! Have a happy Pride everyone! ? ? pic.twitter.com/tkpUh8UhDb
— Visit York (@VisitYork) June 10, 2017
?? to #TeamNYP for this nice touch #pride @NYorksPolice ? pic.twitter.com/TdkNFRkHC3
— Richard Salkeld (@richardsalkeld) June 10, 2017
Never seen this city look so beautiful #YorkPride @YorkPride ? pic.twitter.com/DY3dKbjuZY
— AdamChristopherSmith (@Adam_C_Smith) June 10, 2017
?️?York pride #YorkPride #LoveWins ?️? pic.twitter.com/Oh76kCtcvJ
— Joel Edwards (@JoelEdwardsXXX) June 10, 2017
Proud to be at pride #raiseyourrainbow pic.twitter.com/56nX9mOPFJ
— Fulford School PE (@fulfordschoolPE) June 10, 2017
Norris has had a fantastic day out supporting @YorkPride with his friends from @BarclaysUK Parliament Street. ?️? ? ? #ThankYou #WeAreYork pic.twitter.com/WSI347fXSE
— YCK Foundation (@yckfoundation) June 10, 2017
You loved him so much last year we had to bring the boy back! The lovely @LloydDanielsUK live on main stage at #YorkPride now! pic.twitter.com/vfAEVZuUHj
— York Pride ?️? (@YorkPride) June 10, 2017
ACC Cain sporting fabulous rainbows! #TeamNYP #YorkPride pic.twitter.com/RwIBaNK96K
— NYP_LGBT (@NYP_LGBT) June 10, 2017
Our fantastic MP @RachaelMaskell and @YorkLabourCllrs are ready to march #YorkPride pic.twitter.com/C1A26OxMtb
— York Labour Party (@labouryork) June 10, 2017
Ok…competition time.
I want a #YorkPride #Selfiecomp
Best CLEAN selfie wins the laces.
End of the day I pick the winner.
GO!!! ?️? pic.twitter.com/zA256O9BXQ
— NYP York City (@NPTYorkcity) June 10, 2017
Some absolute corking people out at #YorkPride today. Meeting some truly wonderful people. pic.twitter.com/bBfbvAcmQW
— NYP York City (@NPTYorkcity) June 10, 2017
Some of the team have been busy today helping out at #YorkPride Rainbows everywhere @NYP_LGBT @YorkPride pic.twitter.com/CquWfNcOHJ
— NYP York CSST (@NYPYorkCSST) June 10, 2017
all having fun and standing together to celebrate LGBT rights. What a truly lovely day. #YorkPride 2/2 pic.twitter.com/kvnC7JQJpu
— Hollie Henderson (@HendersonHollie) June 10, 2017
Tories at #YorkPride – not an easy gig today 🙂 #justdesserts pic.twitter.com/ZccbBbLFdL
— Ivana Jakubkova (@jako_Ivana) June 10, 2017
Mini protest outside of the conservative tent at #YorkPride Absolutely beautiful ? pic.twitter.com/ePHAtLK6Qe
— James Robson (@SaxyObae) June 10, 2017
#yorkpride feel the #love https://t.co/Utn35qjhpC
— LisaKelly (@LisaKelly2013) June 10, 2017
@OwainWynEvans has arranged for the rain to stay away from #YorkPride for the rest of the day! ☀️?️? pic.twitter.com/hmqKY9Gj1v
— Michael Swires (@MichaelSwires) June 10, 2017
#YorkPride @MrMattMansi well done you two a well planned day supporting pride pic.twitter.com/s1oOJ95xzu
— Ruth (@ruthhigson) June 10, 2017
#YorkPride #sainsburys pic.twitter.com/uL9qA409R8
— Ruth (@ruthhigson) June 10, 2017
A few pics from today #YorkPride #Pride2017 #HoldHandsWithPride #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/kfK2BCbLIo
— Serena (@misslolitalove) June 10, 2017
#YorkPride #sainsburys #TeamNYP #YorkCityFC please share as such a lovely picture of these 2 beauties #yorkpress pic.twitter.com/3klVIP6yYN
— Ruth (@ruthhigson) June 10, 2017
theres such a great energy here, when you make eye contact with a stranger they smile at you and its such a happy environment ? #YorkPride pic.twitter.com/mzQFyWs5av
— meg (@_meganmaw) June 10, 2017
#Backstage at #YorkPride with the lovely @LloydDanielsUK pic.twitter.com/nbYuXrAorM
— Michael Swires (@MichaelSwires) June 10, 2017
#YorkPride pic.twitter.com/3mfWPluOX6
— benji adams (@BenjiSummerCity) June 10, 2017
We're taking a quick break, but catch us at the afterparty at 7:30! #YorkPride @YorkPride pic.twitter.com/1M0smYED1P
— HAUS OF DENCH (@hausofdench) June 10, 2017
Come and see your favourite glitter beardy man for a free, fast and confidential #HIV test at @yorkpride!! ??? @YorSexualHealth #yorkpride pic.twitter.com/xYiVfkdXp4
— yorkshire mesmac (@yorkshiremesmac) June 10, 2017
Equality for all! #YorkPride pic.twitter.com/xawWuEqwPD
— Manor CE Academy (@manorceacademy) June 10, 2017
Found her again, had a great time with friends & staff from @HuntingtonYork & very happy for getting involved. Also stickers ? #yorkpride pic.twitter.com/HuSj2neDuY
— Rachel Wilkes (@DuckAndDaffodil) June 10, 2017
The amazingly talented @Taniaalboni as Amy Winehouse, live on main stage at #YorkPride! pic.twitter.com/BlDPt3NaKL
— York Pride ?️? (@YorkPride) June 10, 2017
Lotta love ❤️ #yorkpride pic.twitter.com/LkbzGejQNq
— Natalie ? (@Natkaym) June 10, 2017
Our signs for #YorkPride @Lin_Manuel @skamenglish @Sir_Attenboroug pic.twitter.com/hy15pUsQH9
— Sophie Shooter (@SophieShooter) June 10, 2017
Werking the Rainbow Chicken outfit from @NandosUK @YorkPride ?️?#gaypride #YorkPride pic.twitter.com/GyW6umCLO2
— Kieron Robinson (@kieronrobin92) June 10, 2017
Exclusively back from Gran Canaria, our #YorkPride Drag Race 2017 winner @tomtyragibson! ??? pic.twitter.com/XFeGJFdR9k
— York Pride ?️? (@YorkPride) June 10, 2017