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Simon Manchester
Gareth, I think that your assertion that the 'negative' view put forward by John is typical of 30 somethings is both ageist and inaccurate. I would also like to point out that being over 30 - and I am just -doesn't necessarily mean jaded!! If anything, those of us (and I include myself in this) who have worked in one way or another to make Pride what it is today from small beginnings are very proud of both the wonderful achievement of today's festival and the efforts of those in the past. I think you are speaking with the wrong thirty somethings! I also don't know how John can say that Canal Street bars are boarded up - to my knowledge there is only one (Abbaye) which has now been bought. I think that you must frequent a different canal John - umm less said about that the better.

Mark, Blackpool
fantastic, what a great show this year. i went to the festival for the first time this year i will defionatley be going again.

lee manchester
i went to the festival for the first time this year after seeing it on tv last year abnd hearing my friends talk about it for weeks after. i think that it is definatley one of the best, the star guests were amazing and the atmosphere was electric. i will defionatley be going again for the coming years.thank you manchester for showing the world just how much fun we can have. it is things like that which out manchester on the map. love you all xxx

Justine
I took part in the Pride parade yesterday for the very first time. I'm still reeling from the fantastic atmosphere and the excellent attitude of the public towards the event. Not only that, from where I was walking the turnout looked to be very big indeed.

Richard - Hulme
I was at the big europride event last year and was proud to be in the parade for LGF standing right by Sir Iain McKellan. It is a memeory that will stay with me for life. I can't wait for the Big weekend this year and intend having a great time. I moved to Manchester for the Lifestyle and have never regretted the move. Manchester with out the Big Weekend would not be right. Those who are against the event should go and get a life. It is a great expression of freedom and liberation. I hope the Big Weekend is here to stay forever. Rich

Will, Manchester
I was recently at Pride in Toronto along with almost a million others, and whilst the parade was amazing (if not a tad political) the events afterwards were awful - cordoned off areas where you had to buy a ticket to get one of 3 drinks on offer (and not leave the area or use the drink ticket on another day), queues longer than a Harrods sale for the loos and people wondering up and down a 4 mile stretch of road the gay area covered, unable to get into any event. This really made me appreciate how good Manchester Pride is, how well it's organised and lucky we are to have Canal Street where it should be centred around – the heart of the Village, and not in some park 10 miles away. Long Live Manchester Pride!

Ken - Brighton
Brighton Pride knocks spots of Manchester and London put together.

JOAN, STOCKPORT
I would just like to add to the others comments regarding 'Iain, Manchester' You are narrow minded, bigoted, and a whole lot of words I want to use that are not able to be publicised. Were you picked on as a child? Do you get on with your father? Do you have some deep rooted fear that makes you so homophobic? You need to wake up Iain. The August Bank Holiday festivities *are* made for fun, families, and if you meet someone then yeah why not frolics? It is not however, an excuse for the prostitutes and drug dealers to make a profit. People like you should be sent on conditioning courses to make you open your eyes.

Kevin, Manchester
Last years EuroPride knocked London out of the ballpark. I was invited to EuroPride by friends on one of the floats, and it was the best, friendliest, most fun time EVER. It was so much more enjoyable than any of the London Pride events, which I think was helped because the Parade and Canal Street where in such proximity. Also the way the streets were closed to all except those with wristbands (Cheap @ £10) was a great idea. So much my partner and I moved to Manchester in January this year, because not only Canal Street, but Manchester as a whole is such a better atmosphere, with a better sense of community (gay & straight, black and white). Manchester in my books is No.1. I can't wait for August Bank Holiday to come. NOw, where on earth did I put those 6" heels?............

Sam Wiseman
Iain, your are so out of touch, we gays are proud of what we are and maybe you should come and meet a few of us, we could show you a real good time. Not every gay is camp, although I am, some are normal looking people who dress normal. Yes I am a bit of a show off and exhibitionist not everyone is. Come join the fun, you never know you may like it.

TOM STOCKPORT
LAST YEAR WAS MY 1ST GAY PRIDE IT WAS FAB REALLY LOOKING FORWOULD TO THIS YEAR

nat, manchester
iain- your comments are both bigoted and wrong and if it offends tyou to see people havigna good time, then stay away.

Gdayscott, manchester M1
Gay pride, mardi gras or whatever is the BEST gay pride that I have ever been to. The only other I can think of that comes close is San Fran, USA. There they also close the public roads, have families lining the parade. There aren't men and women shagging each other. At most some of the contents of the parade are risque. What it does demonstrate is difference and acceptance and if those are two statements that we can share with young people then I hope the city council continues to support the event and ensure that it continues to remain in the village over 4 days as that is why it will always be the best in the UK! Gay mancunians should ensure that their MPs and Councillors are supporters of Pride and the values of Pride! Otherwise we could find ourselves bttling to keep it rather than comparing it to London. Who's our red ken?

Andy, Manchester
How dare Iain suggest that our pride celebrations are "sex tourism". Why doesn't he just come clean - underlying his comments is the suggestion all gays are about are prostitution, drugs and sex. This kind of ignorance, bigotry, small-mindedness and neanderthal-like attitude do far more damage to young people than a couple of guys walking around in PVC thongs. Thanks for letting us keep our vigil, Iain - its awfully generous of you. Perhaps if you came to it you would see what our community is really about, and you would leave your prejudices where they belong - in the middle ages.

Iain, Manchester
Sex tourism does no City any good. A great boost to the local ecomonys of prostitution and drug-dealing. Try explaining some of theose parading their 'lifestyle' to watching children. Family event it is to laugh. Restrict it to the AIDS vigil only.

Tommo, Huddersfield
Well since 2002 I have attended every Birmingham and Manchester pride, I have to say that Birmingham Pride always seems to have more of a community feel, however the one area where Manchester beats Birmingham is the candlelit vigil, a very good idea. I also don't understand how Birmingham can put on a free event whereas Manchester charges?

Mike Buckley aka Buckers
Why do people (Gaz Jones) think because your gay you have to dress up in chaps etc ?? I will tell you why.......because it's party time when Gay Pride comes to town. The biggest and best the world has to offer, I spend weeks making my outfits and the more risque the better. I even make them for my friend Chris and Peter and we wow the crowds. I am so proud to be gay.

Jo Deane, Failsworth
Sylvia - wow I was in Geneva too, we had a great (giddy!) time. But, like you say no rowdy drunks!! he he. Do you want to share photos? We may have already met!!

Rachael, Manchester
I have attended Manchester 'Pride' since 1998 and have noted that each year has been different! The parade last year was certainly the best and it seemed to me that more people has made the effort for Europride. My girlfriend and I attended all weekend and on the last monday dressed up and were treated as freaks - Canal Street Dykes just don't like diversity when they see it. No wonder my friends and I go elsewhere for a drink. Canal Street is really losing its shine for women.

Sylvia Tameside
Just attended the Gay pride in Geneva this weekend although it was fun colourful peacful I am sure Manchester can put on a more spectacular Parade as parades in the past have been brilliant one thing I did notice was how quick the Swiss cleaned the streets after it was almost as soon as the parade was over and there were no signs of rowdy drunks just good fun and all the bars were open so come on Manchester!
Editor wites: Hey Sylvia, why not send us some of the pictures from Geneva - we'd love to put them on the site for everyone to see! E-mail them to the address at the bottom of this page.

carl hale barns
last year i was ill,but listened to it on bbc gmr gaytalk show,i love nathans interviews,they where great!well done,hope he and the team do more!i love the gay village,but wish it was better,iam 18,and want a place thats safe,good luck for this years pride!!

Gareth, Manchester
John's view is a pretty typical one you get amongst a certain section of the gay community in Manchester - mostly men who are in their early to mid thirties and a little bit jaded. It might be john's perception, but it isn't necessarily true (as the other comments on the page show, not everyone feels the same way about the village). But a view like that is in danger of becoming a self fulfilling prophesy. If you say something's rubbish for long enough, and loud enough, people might start believing you. For the record, there is one boarded-up unit on Canal Street, which is what used to be the Belgian restaurant. A high cost for the lease and equally high ground rent is putting people off investing in it. There's also some fab new bars, like Queer which isn't too long open, and its hardly selling out to a straight venue. Instead of whinging, it might be better to try and enjoy what we have, and try to make it even better. I love the village, yes i have frustrations with it, but i still love it, and it's really heartening to read some of the comments here from people who, unlike me seem dead young, love it too. But I guess every family has a po-faced cousin...

John, Manchester
The Manchester Gay Festival (or whatever it is called this year) is in decline. Mainly because they is no core to the gay community in Manchester any longer. Canal street now consists of boarded up bars or others that are in receivership. The owners of gay venues have been trumped in their quest for the pink pound by other 'straight' venues and cling to outdated ideas that you can treat their gay clientele as badly as they wish - over-inflated prices, disgusting toilets, random entrance fees... Nowadays nearly every bar/restaurant in Manchester is gay friendy and gay people have a choice as to where they go and they are voting with their feet and leaving the Village and 'the scene'. The old ghetto mentality and culture of Canal Street has gone. Whereas the parade itself is always a great spectacle, the events and locations leave a lot to be desired and are attended by either tourists or die-hards. I also believe that with the massive development in Manchester City as a whole, the area does no longer benefit by proclaiming itself as the Gay Capital of the UK as the developers and council recognise that they need a more mainstream image if they are to boost the numbers of actual residents in the City Centre and get all of the developments sold. So, for me, and I agree it might be that I am growing up, the Manchester Gay Festival has peaked and the organisers are now just managing the decline of this event.

Craig Dodd
Wow what a festival it was last year, me and my boyfreind, Yonni will be out and about this year. The colour and sound was just fantastic what a magical night it was for all.

Gareth Droylesden
It is the one place I can be myself, it our way of saying i'm gay and proud of it. I am very flamboyant and like to dress in erotic outfits and here I can, nobody minds what you wear, chaps are my favourite. Everyone should come along, it's a fab event and gets better every year.

John Watling, Upholland
I think it's fantastic, when I first came out I needed somewhere I could go to meet guys, the gay scene hasn't reached Upholland yet!!, probably my first visit to Manchester I took in the gay parade and was amazed at the colour and sound. It was a truelly magical experience (the parade was good as well) Long may it continue