Cathedral prepares to hoist Pride flag

Manchester Cathedral will fly the rainbow Pride flag to coincide with what would have been the Manchester Pride Festival 2020

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Manchester Cathedral will once again show its support for LGBTIQ+ people across Greater Manchester this August.

Marking Pride Season across our region, Manchester Cathedral will fly the rainbow Pride flag to coincide with what would have been the Manchester Pride Festival 2020.

The Dean of Manchester, The Very Reverend Rogers Govender MBE, said: “Social distancing and potential loneliness can have a severe impact on marginalised groups.

"Sadly, this summer, our Pride celebrations across Greater Manchester are not what we had hoped for and we can’t celebrate our diversity and challenge homophobia quite as publicly.

"However, we continue to stand with all those who experience any kind of discrimination because of who they are or who they love.

"By hoisting the Pride flag once again, we celebrate the rainbow people of God across this great city region and we commit ourselves again to continuing to campaign for the full inclusion of LGBTIQ+ in society and in the Church.”

Carl Austin-Behan OBE DL, LGBT Advisor to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Pride in 2020 may look different to years gone by but we need these celebrations more than ever.

"Homophobic abuse and bullying continues, even in Greater Manchester, and LGBTIQ+ communities live with direct discrimination because of sexual and/or gender identities.

"Manchester Cathedral, once again, stands as a beacon of hope and of respect and I’m proud to be raising the flag with The Dean of Manchester today.”

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