Local Life - Wigan - August 2018

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people LGBTQ. At the event he met a very special
guest, fellow Wiganer, actor Sir Ian McKellen.
“I asked him what he thought about Wigan having
its own pride festival and he said ‘go for it’,” said Zak.
Zak soon formed a committee and approached the
council and others for support, and plans were set
in motion.
“We had amazing support,” said Zak, who lives in
Wigan and works at The Old Courts.
“We didn’t realise there was people like us in the
community, it produced some backlash with people
thinking it wasn’t worthwhile but it was.”
The first festival was a huge success, with live
music and stalls spread out in the town centre.
Many businesses and organisations were present,
showing the community their support for LGBT.
From then Zak set up BYOU+ - similar to BYOU but
catering for people 18 and over.
As things progressed it was the second event which
gained the most prominence, with an addition of a
parade and a visit from Sir Ian McKellen.
“We have a really great relationship with him, he was
happy to come and people realised it was a big deal
when he came,” said Zak.
There are more additions to this year’s festival,
which takes place in the town centre on August 11, a
second acoustic stage, more things to do for families
and an autism friendly zone in the Life Centre, which
will include a live stream to entertainment outside.
The theme is floral which represents growth within
the community.
“In this year’s event we have introduced an autism
friendly zone, which is an extra step up we took.
A lot of people are autistic and LGBT, and we are
constantly trying to benefit everyone,” said Zak.
Wigan Pride is a not-for-profit organisation;
organisers don’t receive any money from the event.
Funding for the festival is done through business
and community support.
But why has Wigan not had a pride festival before?
“People have tried,” said Zak.