Isle of Man set to host first-ever Pride event

After being postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak last year, the Isle of Man is hosting its inaugural Pride festival. The celebration will take place in the Villa Marina Gardens in Douglas and will honour the island’s LGBTQ+ diversity.

The ceremony will be preceded by a 50-strong march through Douglas’ downtown area, with participants carrying a 50-meter rainbow banner.

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Due to ongoing construction on Douglas Promenade, the march will be confined to invited guests only.

From 12:30 BST, the Long Walk to Pride will begin at Villiers Square and travel to the Villa Marina, where a variety of activities will take place throughout the afternoon.

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When it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, the Isle of Man has a tumultuous past. Homosexual acts were decriminalised in the island nation only in 1992, 25 years after England and Wales, and 12 years after Scotland.

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Howard Quayle, the island’s Chief Minister, made an “unqualified apology” to homosexual individuals convicted of same-sex crimes under old Manx legislation last year.