Bury celebrates Diversity and LGBTQI+ with another successful Rainbow Train

Tuesday, 26 September 2023 17:15

By David Murphy

Cllr Sandra Walmsley stood with David Catterall (second to end on the right) one of the event organisers

The Rainbow Train held on Sunday 24th September was an incredible success in it’s fourth year, showing the inclusivity of the borough as part of the annual Bury Pride Celebrations.

The event was filled with excitement, music and entertainment as people from all works of life came together to celebrate diversity and equality.

The East Lancashire Railway hosts the event where The Rainbow Train departs the Bolton Street Station and heads up to Rawtenstall for a live performance from Laura and the Lesbians before returning to where Sharleen as Cher performed on the platform.

Entertainment on the train was provided by Roch Valley Radio and the drag queens from The House of Bridget, the gay bar in Bury that is, Bury Bury Gay.

The turnout for the event was fantastic, with people of all ages, genders, and sexualities coming together to celebrate. Seeing the community come together positively was fantastic, showing that Bury is a place where everyone is welcome and accepted.

The Mayor of Bury, Cllr Sandra Walmsley, said “Nowhere does a steam train Pride event. Bury Pride is the first Pride in the UK starting the Pride season off, and as we get to the end of the year, the Rainbow Train gives it a nice closure”.

The Rainbow Train was not just a celebration of diversity and inclusion but also an opportunity to raise awareness about the struggles that the LGBTQ+ community still faces and the work that the LGBTQI+ Forum does.

By coming together and showing their support, participants sent a powerful message that discrimination and intolerance have no place in our borough.