Essex: 4,000 come out to celebrate pride

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Celebrity guests kept pride attendees entertained on Sunday at Essex Pride.

Chelmsford Central Park was filled with celebrators on Sunday to celebrate Essex Pride with bands, drag acts, activists and celebrity gay icons.

Former X Factor stars Amy Mottram and Lucy Spraggan took to the Pride stage to entertain the masses, as did The Voice finalist Christina Marie.

In addition to the entertainment LGBT bullying activist Ella Barnes gave an inspiring talk about acceptance and diversity.

The Essex Chronicle quoted Tony Skeate, the organiser of Essex Pride: “It’s important to regularise education for LGBT issues, it’s great having families here, whether they are heterosexual or gay families. Anything that raises awareness of alternative lifestyles is a good thing.”

The event hosted carnival rides, a dog show, an ‘STI tombola’ run by the Terrence Higgins Trust, and a number of DJs who kept the crowd entertained.