With over 1,000 prides; My first pet dog; Montréal Pride; LGBTQ rights

Issue No. 39 - July 2023

Montréal Pride, Fierté, Canada, 3rd - 13th August 2023

High summer is here! Wishing you pink fun across the world, wherever you are.

Welcome to July 2023 

Hey, high summer seems upon us – hooray - and we at PinkUk Towers are making the most of the mini-heatwave sweeping through most of the UK and this is only the beginning of summer! We wrote this article from a beach on the south coast of England. 

What’s great is that the warm weather coincides with the Pride season in the UK. Other countries including the US and Canada still have plenty of festivals this side of summer. Check out our Pride festival listings, which we believe are the most comprehensive in the world and cover over one 1,000 prides in 55 countries.

This month we feature some interesting articles - so if you like dogs and or romance, here’s one from PinkUk founder Dave about his adopting a beautiful mixed breed spaniel rescue dog called Stanley to follow on from last month’s article on the campiest dog ever, Lady Madonna! We also have a sexy piece from our friends at online gay men’s store Esmale on a lovely romance story.

On LGBTQ+ rights, there’s some same-sex wedding legal news about to hit the US and elsewhere. The US Supreme Court will shortly rule on a court case where an evangelical Christian who is a web designer has contested a state law in the US state of Colorado. The Colorado law prohibits commercial providers from refusing services for same-sex marriages, such as building a website or other similar services. The significance of the case is whether people who hold faith views are permitted to refuse their services if they have a religious objection to same-sex marriage. On 29 June, the UK newspaper The Guardian reported that the case may be challenged on whether the case actually rests on a same-sex marriage situation. The Supreme Court of the USA will judge this case soon.  Read more here at The Guardian.

Pinkest wishes for a great summer!
Love and Pink Respect Team at PinkUk xxx

Featured venue: Villa Maplestone in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, UK.

Maplestone B&B is a lovely old building dating from 1650, set in a pretty walled garden. Semi rural location yet near to town centre.

Dating from 1650, the house is all that remains of a row of 17 workers cottages. Situated in a very quiet, peaceful location, yet a few minutes walk from the artisan area of the town centre with its antique, vintage and interior shops, cafés and bars. A footpath leads straight from the property up into a wooded area, picking up The East Somerset Way, for a pleasant walk. As an all year venue, a visit to Maplestone is great in summer or winter months, and is surrounded by interesting towns and villages to visit.

More info about Maplestone

Would you like to see your venue here? Add your premium venue.

Featured event/pride: Nottinghamshire Pride, Nottingham UK

Nottinghamshire Pride takes place on Saturday the 29th July 2023.

Nottingham Pride has been around in many formats over the years. We believe Notts Pride respects that history and reflects the fabulous diversity in the city. Nottinghamshire Pride will always be free to all and will celebrate the wonderful LGBTQ+ Talent across our City and County. The parade will start at 11am, from the junction of Lister Gate and Castle Gate (outside M&S).

More info about Nottinghamshire Pride 2023

Prides/LGBTQ+ events

So far, for this new year, we have 298 pride festivals listed in the UK and 1,007 LGBTQ+ prides events in 55 countries worldwide for 2023. For 2024 we have 8 prides in the UK and 58 in 16 other countries. Keep us posted if you have a pride festival or event that needs promoting.

See all the prides/LGBTQ+ events we have in June, Add an LGBTQ+ event to PinkUK

We have 3,331 LGBTQ+ venues listed in 77 countries. Add a venue to PinkUk

Scene, recently relaunched with its fabulous new print copy. We are proud to support them.  See their latest edition. 
Scene is the top UK, free to read, online, LGBTQ+ magazine.