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# Heart of Wales LGBTQ+: Organising a rural Pride event during the cost of living crisis
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/heart-of-wales-lgbtq-organising-a-rural-pride-event-during-the-cost-of-living-crisis/
- Published: 2023-07-25T10:49:40.000Z
- Updated: 2023-07-25T10:49:40.000Z
- Description: Llandovery Pride takes place on Saturday, July 29 from 10am for a day full of family friendly celebrations.
- Author: Contributor
- Tags: Wales

After the unanticipated popularity of **Llandovery**’s first ever Pride in 2022, it was assured of its return in 2023\. But almost as soon as the progress flags were lowered and **Miss Beaver**’s chicken fillets tossed to the floor, the financial landscape of the UK took a devastating turn. So when **Heart of Wales LGBTQ+**’s Pride Committee reconvened to prep this year’s festivities, it was against the backdrop of people struggling to make ends meet and begged the question:

**How do you organise Pride during a cost of living crisis?**

Adversity really does bring out the best in people – something the LGBTQ+ community have proved many times over. In its first iteration, the bulk of the costs of **Llandovery Pride** were funded with donations by individuals and organisations such as the **Llandovery Rotary Club**. Last year the **Go Fund Me page** was a simple way for people to show their support, whereas this year, with purse strings being necessarily tightened, Heart of Wales LGBTQ+ has found people are still fervently showing their love, just in alternative ways.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-favs-23-scaled-e1690282103113.jpg)

Armed with glitter and streamers, one resident – who has asked for their benevolence to remain anonymous – has volunteered to campify the **Castle Hotel Ballroom**, which will be hosting Pride’s closing cabaret: ***An Eve With Beav***.

Anything from workshops to whistles, venues to raffle prizes, have been provided free of charge by businesses local to Llandovery.

**Why is Pride essential for rural communities?**

“Your post code shouldn’t dictate your opportunity to live freely,” insists Heart of Wales LGBTQ+ founder and Llandovery Pride committee member **Ella Peel** who points out that “celebration can help erode barriers”.

Ella was also keen to share that the Pride committee didn’t want cost to become yet another hurdle for the LGBTQ+ community to access queer culture, explaining that: “the overwhelming majority of our events are completely free”.

**What events and activities are on offer?**

Brand new for 2023 is an **Art Exhibition** hosted at the **Old Printing Office** on **Broad Street**, featuring pieces by Llandovery born **Roan Jones** (**@loverat.tattoo**).

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-favs-1-scaled-e1690282067808.jpg)

Returning from last year will be the **Heart of Wales Film Festival**, which screens a selection of short films from new and emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers from across the globe.

The **Soap Box Stage**: an open air protest platform, featuring spoken word and live music from local LGBTQ+ performers.

**Craft workshops** at **Market Square**, and **Family Story Time** in the ruins of **Llandovery Castle**, hosted by the award winning non-binary story-teller **Niall Moorjani**.

And an **all-day market** featuring products from some of the best queer owned businesses in Wales.

The only ticketed event is the cabaret in which organiser **Craig Osborne** believes: “provides amazing value for money. Our acts represent the cream of queer talent. You wouldn’t normally be able to see any one of them for this price \[**£10**\] but we’ve managed to hoist five acts from the most vibrant cities in the UK to little old Llandovery.”

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-favs-42-scaled-e1690282014240.jpg)

Miss Beaver

A noticeably Celtic pulse runs through the heart of the cabaret too, with **Justin Drag** (drag king), **Jordropper** (gender fluid drag artist) and **Venetia Blind** (drag queen) all based in Cardiff, while **Niall Moorjani** (storyteller) is originally from Scotland and the host of the evening is Llandovery’s very own, **Miss Beaver**.

So in answer to the question: How do you organise Pride during a cost of living crisis?

It’s pretty simple: with hard work, creativity and the open arms of a generous community who believe that whoever you are you should be celebrated.

**Llandovery Pride takes place on Saturday, July 29 from 10am for a day full of family friendly celebrations.**

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/photo-2023-07-04-12-44-27-e1690282131829.jpg)