Member Article

Go North East supports North East Pride events in 2022

Go North East, the region’s largest bus company, is excited to be showing its support for the region’s Pride events in 2022.

It kicks off this weekend with Durham Pride, which takes place on Sunday 29 May. Go North East will be proudly leading the parade through Durham city centre with one of its iconic open-top buses.

The parade starts outside the Cathedral and finishes at The Sands, where the main festival will take place. Blue’s Duncan James will be headlining the main stage, with appearances from dance music legend Alison Limerick, and RuPaul Drag Race star Kitty Scott-Claus.

Then, on Saturday 11 June, Go North East will be at Sunderland Pride. Taking centre stage will be the company’s specially painted Sunderland Pride bus and they will also be giving out free goodies. Drag Race superstars, Choriza May and Scarlett Harlett, will be performing, alongside many other great acts.

Finally, on Saturday 23 July, Newcastle plays host to UK Pride. This looks set to be the biggest Pride celebration the North East has ever hosted, with tens of thousands of people expected to flock to Newcastle from across the country.

Go North East will be supporting the parade, and the company is also teaming up with Pride Radio in the weeks running up to the event with a competition that will see listeners given the chance to win six pairs of weekend Platinum Passes.

These passes will give VIPs access to the Platinum bar and garden, closer access to the main stage, and possibly even the chance to mingle with the star acts! Keep an ear out on Pride Radio for more info on how to enter the competition.

Martijn Gilbert, managing director at Go North East, said: “We’re very proud and humbled to be given the chance to play a small part in each of the main North East Pride celebrations this year. We know that many colleagues and customers alike are looking forward to marking Pride events this year, given most have been postponed over the past couple of years due to Covid-19.

“At Go North East, we’re committed to championing diversity through our internal One Team GNE initiative. We recognise the importance of Pride celebrations, not just as a chance for people to come together and have fun, but also as a way to honour those who have worked tirelessly for rights that the LGBTQ+ community have today in the UK, and draw attention to the millions of LGBTQ+ people around the world are still deprived of the rights that they should have.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you in advance to colleagues who are giving up their time to support these important events.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Go North East .