Durham Castle will fly a rainbow flag as the city's Pride officially launches 'bigger and better than ever' after securing more than £15,000 in funding.
The launch at the Radisson Blu Hotel comes less than a year after Durham County Council, now controlled by Reform UK, confirmed it would withdraw financial support for future Pride events, having previously contributed up to £10,000 from councillors’ budgets.
Reform’s leadership, including deputy council leader Darren Grimes, argued the authority should not fund what it calls “contested causes” and has pledged to divert money to core services such as roads and waste collection.
Trade unions have stepped in to fill the gap, with a fundraiser led by the TUC and Durham Miners Association raising more than £8,400, and a further £7,200 donated this week by Equity, taking the total to more than £15,500 to keep the event running.
TUC regional secretary Dave Pike said the response showed the union movement was determined that Pride would go ahead, warning that more than half of LGBT+ people still report bullying or harassment at work and that “we still need Pride not only to celebrate, but to organise and demand better”.
Tonight's (Thursday, May 14) launch will see the Pride flag raised above Durham Castle, where it will remain throughout the celebrations, a symbolic move after the same flag was removed from County Hall shortly after Reform took control and ordered only national and local flags to be flown.
Durham Pride organiser Mel Metcalf said the castle would act as “a beacon of hope and solidarity”, describing the flag as a statement that Durham Pride will stand against attempts to erase LGBT+ visibility.
The dispute over flags and funding follows a turbulent year in which Reform removed the Pride flag at County Hall and Durham Pride, in turn, said some politicians would not be welcome on its stage, insisting that parties using LGBT+ people as a “political football” should not expect a platform at the event.
It led to strong words from Durham Miners' Assocation's Alan Mardghum at the Big Meeting. Mr Mardghum, reacting to Pride's 2026 launch, said: "It is great news from the TUC.
"I said we would make sure the Pride flag would fly here and it is, so it is great news that there has been the support to make the event happen."
City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy, said Reform’s decision to lower the Pride flag and threaten funding had backfired, insisting “no act of political grandstanding” would hold back Mr Metcalf or Durham Pride.
She said: “A year ago, when they took control of Durham County Council, Reform made headlines by lowering the Pride flag at County Hall and threatening to defund Durham Pride.
"We are still here and we aren’t going anywhere. This year Pride will be bigger and better than ever before, and I cannot wait to see everyone on the field.”
The main Pride event is due to take place on Saturday, May 30, beginning with a parade at 11am from Palace Green, outside Durham Cathedral, and finishing at The Sands.
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The march will be followed by live performances, speeches, bars, food vendors, stalls and funfair rides, with organisers and unions urging local residents, institutions and businesses to show their support and display symbols of inclusion across the city over the weekend.
Equity regional official Dominic Bascombe said the union was “extremely proud” to back Durham Pride, describing events like this as both a celebration that brings communities together and an important source of work for performers while calls for a “fair and equal society for all” continue.
Durham County Council and Reform UK councillor Darren Grimes were contacted for comment.
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