Cheshire's civic leaders came together to discuss how to make the area more inclusive for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Congleton Pride and the Town Mayor Kay Wesley hosted a 'Pride in Leadership' event at the Town Hall earlier this month.

The event brought together delegates from nine Cheshire towns and began with an exhibition from various Pride groups, showcasing their activities throughout the year.

Councillor Wesley said: "In many of our towns, the Pride groups are showing leadership in empowering LGBTQIA+ people and creating events that are inclusive for everyone.

"Civic leaders are also responsible for supporting community cohesion and ensuring that their towns are great places to live.

"It was a new idea to bring them all together to explore opportunities, and it worked well, with powerful insights shared and some inspiring next steps.

"Many thanks to everyone who came and to Congleton Pride, Body Positive and our Town Hall team for facilitating this exciting event."

The event was held at Congleton Town Hall (Credit: CEC)

Pride groups, mayors, deputies and community representatives from several towns were welcomed to Congleton Town Hall on Tuesday, February 11.

Also in attendance was Congleton MP, Sarah Russell, with Chester's MP Samantha Dixon sending a video message to show her support.

The event featured a workshop put on by Body Positive Cheshire and North Wales, a charity that has been supporting the area's LGBTQIA+ communities for more than 30 years.

Civic leaders worked with their respective Pride groups to consider various questions and to identify potential barriers and opportunities.

Sue Armitt, chair of MaccPride, said: "We are proud to attend this event with the Mayor of Macclesfield fostering inclusivity in our civic spaces."

The Mayor of Knutsford, Colin Banks, added: "Thank you for a wonderful evening.

"I am new to the world of Pride, but this event has convinced me that we should take the first steps in Knutsford."

Macclesfield Town Mayor Sandy Livingstone and the Macc Pride team (Credit: CEC)

The evening concluded with a number of clear actions for the groups to take forward, including the determination to repeat this event at least annually, with the Chester team agreeing to host the next one.

Chair of Congleton Pride, Malcolm Pope, closed the event, saying: "I thank you for attending the first and certainly not the last Pride in Leadership Event.

"The purpose of the event has been to create a forum for those in leadership to interact and understand our Pride movements.

"There have been many leading lights from our community that have delivered for all. In medicine, technology, social justice, science, military and even the inventor of peanut butter! In history we tend to be airbrushed out, or those that achieve fall silent on who they truly are. It is a tragedy that we do not celebrate properly who we are and what we have achieved for the greater good of all humanity.

"Judge our Pride movement by its behaviours. We are active members of our communities who seek to make a positive difference for all. We seek to educate. We seek to keep our community safe. Everyone in here from the Pride organisations – the difference you make is incredible – take some time out to celebrate that.

"When rights are achieved they have to be defended. The vulnerable need to be protected. The diversity of life should be celebrated, differing perspectives always create better solutions, more interesting lives and better places to live in." 

The group agreed to make this an annual event (Credit: CEC)

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