More than 80,000 to back No Outsiders at Birmingham Pride

Thousands of people are set to march through the streets of Birmingham tomorrow to show their support for the No Outsiders educational programme as part of the city's annual Pride celebrations.

The parade will be led by the programme’s creator, Andrew Moffat, together with the largest Muslim contingent ever seen at Birmingham Pride, supported by HSBC. Organisers feel certain it will be the biggest Pride Parade in the event’s 22-year history.

More than 150 LGBTQ+ organisations and around 5,000 people are taking part in the Parade, with 75,000 spectators expected to line the procession’s route to endorse No Outsiders.

The participants will set off from Victoria Square at 12pm and make their way through the city centre to the gay village.

Birmingham Pride, the UK’s biggest two-day LGBTQ+ festival, is this year giving its total backing to the No Outsiders initiative in schools.

No Outsiders teaches children about equality, and is currently under threat from protesters demonstrating outside Birmingham schools.

The man behind No Outsiders, Andrew Moffat MBE - the assistant head at another under-siege local school, Parkfield Community School in Saltley - will lead the Pride Parade.

Andrew will be joined by a number of prominent local LGBTQ+ Muslims in a show of solidarity and support for the initiative. These will include Saima Razzaq, a Pakistani lesbian Muslim, and Khakan Qureshi, who runs Finding A Voice - a social support group for South Asian LGBT+ communities in Birmingham.

Among the groups that will lead the Parade with Andrew are IMAAN LGBTQI Muslim Support, Finding A Voice, Naz and Matt Found, and Supporting Education of Equality and Diversity in Schools (SEEDS).

Commenting on Saturday’s parade, Pride Festival Director Lawrence Barton said: “We totally support the No Outsiders initiative in schools.

"Relationship lessons are essential to reflect our entire diverse community in Birmingham, and to ensure that no child feels left out and isolated.

"We're delighted that Andrew Moffat and the event’s largest-ever Muslim contingent will lead the Pride Parade.

"We are united in our desire to show that the LGBTQ and Muslim communities stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity.”

After the parade, tens of thousands of party revellers are set to descend on the Birmingham Pride festival to enjoy a bumper weekend of entertainment in a friendly and inclusive party atmosphere.

Headliners on the event’s Main Stage are Years and Years and The Human League. Other high-profile performers include Mabel, Sigala, Marc Almond, Faithless and Kate Nash.

Lawrence continued: “The entire Birmingham Pride team are absolutely buzzing about this year’s festival. We’ve got a fantastic line-up, so we’re certain it’s going to be an amazing event.”

Birmingham Pride takes place on both Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, and last year attracted more than 50,000 party-loving revellers.

The 2019 festival features the Virgin Trains Main Stage, the Mixmag Dance Arena, The Los Angeles Cabaret Stage, The Future Stage and the Women's Arena. A street food court, community stalls, women’s area and new Lip Sync Stage also feature.

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