Luton’s first Pride takes place this weekend!
The first ever Pride in Luton takes place on Saturday 25th June, we’re so excited to be sponsoring this amazing event and can’t wait for the celebrations ahead. This is a particularly special year, commemorating 50 years since the UK first Pride march and a momentous chapter in Luton history, with Luton’s first ever Pride.
From Drag performers, singers, dancers, theatre groups, this will not only be a historic occasion, but a day full of fun and laughter for all to enjoy and celebrate. Make sure you’re in the Hat District this Saturday from 1pm to take part in a full day of celebrations.
We’ve compiled a list of all the amazing activity going on in the town centre that you should check out over the weekend…
Taking place in the Hat District from 1pm – 7pm, Asifa Lahore will guide you through a host of entertainment and speeches on the main stage
Homography dance company – 1pm
Homography is a performance festival, taking a cloers look at the various non-normative representations associated with sexual dissidence.
Singer-Songwriter Sofia – 1:30pm
Pop star Smasby & Trans activist Paula Collins – 2:30pm
San Marino Eurovision Finalist Aaron Sibley – 3pm
Asifa Lahore – 3:30pm Bollywood dancing
Asifa Lahore is Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen, pushing the boundaries of what it means to be LGBT, South Asian and Muslim.
Asifa came into the national spotlight in 2014 when she was censored by the Birmingham Central Mosque from discussing Islam and Homosexuality on BBC Free Speech.
X-Factor’s Lushous and speaker Roger Newman – 4pm
Jamie & the band – 4:30pm
Jaymi Hensley – 5pm
Jaymi Hensley is a Lutonian born and bred and member of the boy band Union J who formed in 2011, originally known as Triple J. Consisting of Cuthbert, Hamblett and Hensley the group met on the show The X Factor where they finished fourth and were signed to Sony Music subsidiary RCA Records.
Their debut single, Carry You, was released in June 2013, with their self-titled album following in October 2013 and peaking at number 6 in the UK Albums Chart.
On January 2022 Union J confirmed they would be reforming to celebrate their tenth anniversary.
La Voix – 6pm
Queen of the universe herself, the fabulous La Voix headlines Pride in Luton this Saturday, global superstar and the UK’s funniest red head. Expect mesmerising impressions of the worlds biggest divas, leaving you with a belly full of laughter, this will be one performance you don’t want to miss.
- Homography dance company
- Singer songwriter Sofia
- Luton’s very own Next Generation Youth Theatre
- Up and coming pop star Smashby
- X-Factor’s Lorna Simpson (AKA Lushour)
- Aaron Sibley
And Headlining is La Voix, Queen of the Universe
In the Hat Factory:
Studio 1
- Are You Proud? documentary
- 4.15pm Mama G’s inclusive story time for families
Factory Floor (until 6pm)
A host of community stalls including:
- Outdoor Lads
- National Education Union
- LGBT Beds
- Girl Guiding
- Total Wellbeing
- Recovery College
- Luton Sexual Health Team
- Luton Council Adoption and Fostering team
- Northampton Outlaws RFC
- Ebony books – inclusive children’s books
- Bedfordshire Police
- University of the 3rd Age
Beacon Lounge
Arts and crafts throughout the afternoon
Official Afterparty Hat Factory (+18 only) 7pm – 11:30pm
Asifa Lahore will be playing the best pride party anthems on the Factory Floor.
Live music will be provided by Basement Live on the lower floor
Hat House (open till 6pm)
A special youth zone for 13–18-year-olds to meet with peers, take part in activities and seek advice.
Street Food – Guildford Street
Food for all to enjoy, suitable for all dietary requirements.
Creative vision for this year’s Pride in Luton poster:
Ashton Attzs
The creative vision behind this year’s Pride in Luton Poster, Ashton Attzs. Attzs is a queer, black, Luton-based artist. Their paintings and illustrations are a vehicle to empower the everyday person. Using dreamy blues and cotton candy pinks against charmingly distinctive, racially and gender-diverse animated characters to create bold, joyful and unapologetic work in style and message.
Attzs has been commissioned by Instagram, Red Nose Day, Tate, Tottenham Hotspur FC & Universal (just to name a few). In 2018, Attzs won the coveted Evening Standard Art Prize for their painting of transgender swimmers, “Don’t Stay In Ya Lane”.
This will be a historic day of celebrations and we invite everyone to be part of the amazing celebrations taking place all around town this weekend. For more information about Pride in Luton, please click here. Please click here for more information about Luton’s LGBTQ+ history.
