Hull Pride is now in its ninth year and expects to attract around 15,000 people with a fantastic day of entertainment. But with funding yet to be secured for next year, this may be its last. We spoke to Pride’s Andy Train to find out more.

What can we expect at this year’s Pride event? 
24 acts shoehorned into an afternoon of fun and frolics on a main stage focused at West Park in Hull.

What’s the highlight of the entertainment at this year’s festival?
Lisa Scott-Lee as headliner, but the atmosphere is totally amazing and the people, families and friends of the LGBT community make it happen!

With so many Pride events in the UK calendar, why should we choose Hull Pride?
Every Pride event is unique and has something from the local community about it. Choose Hull Pride in 2010 and you will see that we have a fantastic ‘green grass pride’ next to our major stadium for Hull and a stone’s throw away from our Queer Quarter.

How long has the event been running for and how has it evolved over the years?
It’s our ninth year and we have just got bigger and better year on year. We hope that we are getting it right, whatever it is!

How many people are you expecting?
10,000 to 15,000.

"We are and will always be a special group of people who deserve a chance to say, 'Look, here we are!'"

Does Hull Pride cater for a diverse range of tastes within the gay community? How?
We are very much a family orientated event as we find that it’s the best way to engage with the city as a whole. We just love the colourfulness of the day, both from costume, clothes, personality and diversity within diversity that Hull Pride allows.

Are straight people welcome to come along too?
Yeah, definitely, although we aren’t recruiting!

Will Hull Pride be a good place to pull?
Yeah, we are notoriously easy in Hull, or is that just me?

"We are notoriously easy in Hull, or is that just me?"

So when did you come out?
2002, not easy and quite messy. I was married - to a woman.

What was your first experience of a Pride event?
2002 on my way home from a weekend in Manchester, it was Hull’s first Pride!

What’s more important at Pride: the politics or the partying? 
Partying, although people need reminding what struggles have been and are on-going to allow us to have this type of experience. No funding next year, so it might be our last!

"Support your local Pride events, but each year try and go see another one. They really do need your support, particularly the smaller ones that perhaps struggle for support. Get involved, these things don’t just happen!"

With gay equality getting ever closer, is there still a need for Pride?
Yeah, for the reasons I mentioned. We are and will always be a special group of people who deserve a chance to say, 'Look, here we are!'

So, what does Pride mean to you?
Just the smiling faces of fun and acceptance.

Should we be dressing up or down for the occasion?
Up, always up!

Anything else you’d like to add?
Support your local Pride events, but each year try and go see another one. They really do need your support, particularly the smaller ones that perhaps struggle for support. Get involved, these things don’t just happen!

Hull Pride takes place on Saturday 31 July on West Park in Hull.

For a list of all the UK Prides taking place in 2010 click the button below.