This weekend Cardiff will be celebrating Pride Cymru. Style of the City recognises some of the most iconic Welsh LGBTQ supporters and allies, who have helped share light on issues regarding homophobia, discrimination and hate towards the LGBTQ community. These incredible people have dedicated their time to work with charities and to use their influence in order to help those in need of support.
- Gareth Thomas
Gareth Thomas is an openly gay professional rugby player, who changed the face of Welsh sport forever. By becoming an advocate for gay sportsmen, he put his star status to good use to support young people struggling with their sexuality, by working with the charity ChildLine. In an interview with the Guardian, he stated, “I don’t know if my life is going to be easier because I’m out, but if it helps someone else, if it makes one young lad pick up the phone to ChildLine, then it will have been worth it”.
For more information visit childline.org.uk or call 0800 1111
- Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey is a Welsh singer, who is best known for her powerful voice in the theme song, to the James Bond Film, Goldfinger. She is an icon and a local ally to the LGBTQ community. Bassey has continually worked with charities to support the LGBTQ community. Previously she worked with Barnardo’s on an event called “Hey Big Spender”, where she donated numerous rare Chanel and Christian LaCroix dresses. She stated, “I very much hope my fans will bid for them and raise money for the critical work Barnardo’s does with vulnerable young people in the gay community, helping to protect them from abuse and discrimination.
For more information visit www.barnardos.org.uk
- Russell T Davies
Russell T Davies is a Welsh screenwriter and television producer, who notoriously ran Doctor Who for sixteen-years and led the productions of the two spin-off series, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. He also produced the Channel 4 drama series Cucumber, which centred on a gay man called Henry’s mid-life crisis, and Banana, its E4 companion series focusing on younger characters from across the LGBTQ community. It was an ambitious project which tackled homophobia head-on.
- Nathan Wyburn
Nathan Wyburn is a Welsh artist, the ‘Warhol of Wales’, who is notoriously known for appearing on Britain’s Got Talent, in 2011, where he created a portrait of then judge Michael Mclntyre, using only Marmite on toast. Wyburn is an ambassador for the anti-bullying charity Bullies Out. He is also a supporting partner of Pride Cymru acting as their youth ambassador. He stated, “I feel proud enough to create pieces of work that are supportive of the LGBT community such as Obama painted on the pride flag – and stand on stage at Pride events and show people it gets better.”
For more information visit www.bulliesout.com
- Rona Rees
Rona Rees, president of the Beaumont Society, is one of the leading figures in the society’s work in helping transgender people in Wales. When her revelation moment came she gained the courage to make the call to the Beaumont Society, which help and supports those in the transgender community. It took Rona 20 years to commence her transition. As she is a fluent Welsh speaker, she’s a regular on BBC Radio Cymru and S4C.
For more information on the Beaumont Society visit www.beaumontsociety.org.uk.
This year marks Pride Cymru’s 20th birthday, which will be the most exciting event yet!
Date: August 23, 2019 – August 25, 2019
Location: City Hall Lawns
For more information visit www.pridecymru.com
