Who are we?
Suffolk Pride is a community organisation that organises LGBTQ+ events in Suffolk. This includes the large annual pride event in Ipswich and a range of other pride and awareness related activities across the county.
We are currently lead by our Chair Becki, and we are working towards our Pride 2024 events. Outside of Pride, we are a diverse group of people who are all passionate in ensuring that there is a Pride community in Suffolk.
How is the group run?
Suffolk Pride is a constituted group, which means we are governed by a constitution which dictates how we run.
A key detail of this is that we must have at least 3 signatory members (titled Chair, Secretary and Treasurer). Alongside these roles, we have a range of volunteers who work with us such as a press manager, event organisers and a finance team. The key positions are elected during our Annual General Meeting (AGM).
What are our aims?
The main aim of Suffolk Pride, as stated in our constitution, is to organise an annual LGBTQ+ Pride event calendar that promotes pride and equality in Suffolk. Alongside this aim, we as a team are working on bridging community gaps and ensuring that pride is accessible and welcoming to all. 2022 focused on ensuring that we made pride as accessible as possible and in 2023 we looking to continue this work.
What are our objectives?
Suffolk Pride’s main objectives are to promote equality and diversity, and to work to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender identity within Suffolk. To do this, we work with other local organisations such as schools, workplaces and through public events. For example, we held a Trans 101 talk in 2021 which you can find here.
Who can join?
Membership to Suffolk Pride is open to anyone who:
- Is over the age of 14
- Resides in Suffolk, has connections with Suffolk or lives in the neighbouring counties
- Supports our aims
Members can be either voting or non-voting. A voting member is someone who actively volunteers with Suffolk Pride and is over the age of 18. Such as someone on a working group, or someone who is on the management committee. A non-voting member are those who attend open meetings or communicate remotely but are not an active volunteer.
Membership information is held centrally and is only used for the purpose of distribution notes, emails and our occasional bulletins. This is stored in line with GDPR.
What are our values?
We actively promote equality and inclusion throughout all of our activities and throughout every area of our organisation. We works positively and creatively to ensure that everyone feels welcome and we do not discriminate against anyone because of any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010; Age, Disability, Gender reassignment, Marriage or Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and maternity, Race, Religion or belief, Sex, and Sexual Orientation.
Further to this; Black Lives Matter. No debate. Suffolk Pride will do everything it can to make sure that Black voices in our LGBTQ+ community are included and that they have an influence on our work.
We also want to extend our arms out to all our Trans brothers and sisters and people identifying as non-binary and intersex. We will always stand together. We are stronger together. Trans Rights are Human Rights.