Thousands turn out for Pride event in city centre

Crystal said Norwich's 17th annual Pride was "so exciting and energising"

Thousands of people have turned out for a city centre Pride march.

The 17th annual event, a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and inclusion, took place in Norwich on Saturday.

Across the day, people were able to listen to live music, visit stalls, and speak to local businesses and charities.

Crystal, who appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race and led the march, said: "Coming to a place like Norwich, you really get a sense of a community and the importance."

Thousands of people took part in the march, which left City Hall at about 13:00 BST

Crystal, who came sixth in the UK version of the TV show, held a Q&A session and performed as part of the event.

"I have done a lot of smaller Prides, and it is always my favourite thing," they said.

"It really reminds you of how important Pride still is."

The city's first Pride event took place in 2009 and Norwich Pride became a registered charity in 2020.

River (left) and Blaz said Norwich Pride was a community

River, from Norfolk, said Pride for him meant "self-expression".

The 25-year-old, who does drag, said: "Norwich is definitely more queer-populated especially than where I live.

"It is unfortunate when you leave Pride, you still see hate crime and cat-calling and things like that.

"I feel as a whole we all kind of stick up for each other."

Blaz, also from Norfolk, added: "The community really sticks up for each other.

"Everyone makes their own little safe circle."

There were about 120 stalls in six different locations, including at The Forum, Theatre Street and Chapelfield Gardens.

Tracey Slater works with a charity that helps to provide a safe space in the city

Tracey Slater works for the SOS Bus Norwich, which provides a safe haven for people in distress on a night out.

She said the charity wanted people to feel safe when they visited its hub on Prince of Wales Road.

"For us coming to this event, it is to show people we are supporters of this community, and we are not going to judge," she said.

"Hopefully, they will then feel safe enough to come to us."

The march left City Hall at about 13:00 BST before finishing at Chapelfield Gardens.

Some events were cut short due to heavy rain, including live music outside the Forum, a volunteer for the event said.