Dublin Pride announce Belong To - LGBTQ Youth Ireland as Grand Marshall for this year’s Parade.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Dublin Pride march. 50 years ago, on the 27th of June 1974, a handful of students came together for the first LGBTQ+ demonstration on the island of Ireland, the first Dublin Pride march. As we mark and celebrate half a century of Pride in the city, we are delighted to announce that we have chosen Belong To - LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland as Grand Marshall to lead out our march and parade on Saturday June 29th.
Commenting on this, Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO, Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland said:
“As the national LGBTQ+ youth organisation, Belong To is absolutely thrilled and honoured to join Dublin Pride as Grand Marshall as they celebrate 50 years of Dublin Pride.
For over two decades, we have been there supporting LGBTQ+ young people when they need us providing information, guidance, and a place to come together, have fun and embrace who they are. This is what Pride is all about!
This year, as we see increasing levels of hate directed at our community, we need a space to not only celebrate, but also unite, more than ever. We are overjoyed to lead this year’s Pride and can’t wait to embody this year’s theme and ‘Shine’ alongside hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth who will join Belong To at the parade in June.
For many of these young people, this is their first time being out and proud and joining the wider community to celebrate their authentic selves. Pride means so much to the LGBTQ+ youth that we support, and we are grateful to Dublin Pride tomark their by 50th anniversary by selecting the next generation of change-makers as the Grand Marshall.”
As we celebrate our golden jubilee, the theme of this year’s Dublin Pride festival is ‘Shine’
Shine means to give forth light, but it also means to cast light into dark places, or to restore the brilliance of things that have gotten dull. Pride celebrates the light we all hold, but it is brightest when it is shared. We invite you to shine, both in your own Pride, and to be a light for those who may be in the dark right now.
Join us on Saturday June 29th and help light our march.
Images attached:
1974 photo credits: Gareth Miller & Thomas A O’Shea. Irish Queer Archive at NLI
2024 photo credit: Babs Daly
Shine Graphic design credit: Colm Molloy