EASTLEIGH Pride is expected to return ‘bigger and better’ than ever after a year away due to Covid-19.

Pride, which is held at the Leigh Road Recreation Ground was cancelled in 2020, but now organisers are expecting more than double the visitors compared to previous events.

Taking place on September 4, Pride is usually run by the area’s Business Improvement District (BID), but this year it is being set up by members of the community and founder, Dannon Robinson.

Dannon, who has lived in Eastleigh all his life, decided to organise the first event in 2018 after he fell victim to a homophobic assault.

Daily Echo:

Now, he says he wants to reach as many people as possible and is expecting around 5,000 people to attend.

He said: “Some people have said to me in the past, ‘We’ve got Southampton Pride, why does Eastleigh need one?’. The way I answer that is that Eastleigh is a borough. We contain multiple areas with many different communities.

“Eastleigh, however diverse it may be, isn’t the most accepting of places sometimes. There are young people out there who are afraid to hold someone’s hand because of the look they get from people.

“With Eastleigh Pride we want to educate people who don’t understand. My belief is that if you don’t involve people who aren’t LGBTQ+, they will never accept. This year’s event we are going bigger and better.”

Hosting the event, which takes place from 11am until 8pm, is Welsh drag queen, Diana D; radio show host, Naomi Stock; the returning host, Misty Lee; and female drag queen Clare Deloon.

More than 50 stalls are expected, with trans and non-binary group, Hunting Hearts, set to headline.

Dannon thanked the events sponsor, Blake Entertainements for allowing them to use equipment for free and added: “I personally believe that Pride is a requirement in Eastleigh to help bring equality to every aspect of people’s lives.”

Security has been hired for the event and stalls are being kept one metre apart with hand sanitiser available to ensure it is Covid-safe.

Eastleigh MP, Paul Holmes said: “I am delighted Eastleigh Pride is happening this year. It is great that after a difficult year and a half we can celebrate the importance of communities coming together.

“Eastleigh Pride is quite rightly a celebration of how far we have come as a country in LGBTQ+ rights, but also reminds us of our duty to raise awareness of the work we continue to have to do in the UK and around the world. I wish the organisers luck and look forward to attending!”