The founder, Michael Pollard (Polly) was saddened to hear of the passing of Lizzie Lowe a local teenager who made the tragic decision to take her own life rather than admit to her community that she might be LGBTQ+.  Michael was also horrified to witness homophobia outside the Co-Op on Wilmslow Road whilst he was waiting for his bus back to Manchester.  This included bullying of a young gay guy by a group of slightly older girls.  Michael stepped in and dealt with the situation with a priority on ensuring the young man was comfortable and felt safe.   The following day, his parents came into Home Cafe (where Michael has been the Cafe Manager since 2017) and thanked him for his support and care.

Partly as a consequence of these distressing events, Michael established Didsbury Pride as a free event for the whole community with some very clear messages about inclusion whilst providing a great event open to all.

The first Didsbury Pride, held in the gardens of Emmanuel Church with the strong support of the local rector, Dr Canon Rev Nick Bundock, attracted 600 people and there was a great party atmosphere.  This became an annual event and this year we are expecting over 6000 people, including a Rainbow Walk through Didsbury village and a youth programme throughout the day plus tailored activities for young children and families.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Michael Josephson for his support of Didsbury Pride over the forthcoming years.