THE FIRST Teignmouth Pride is to take place next month.

The two-day event, which will feature live music and drag artists, is aimed at celebrating the diversity of the town.

While many Pride events feature organised marches, Teignmouth Pride will have a different format, focusing on a festival of music and dance and a street party.

Event director Paul Burgess said: ‘We’ll come together as a community regardless of individual differences yet working for the freedom for all to live their lives as they choose to do so.

‘Teignmouth Pride believes that it doesn’t matter who you are, love is love.’

Funding has come from the National Lottery, Teignmouth Town Council, The Brass Teignmouth and a number of other local businesses.

Money has also been raised to put on the free event through merchandise sales, monthly drag nights and other community fund raising events such as collection boxes. The weekend has been put together by a small group of volunteers made up of the LGBTQIA+ community, friends and family.

Paul explained: ‘Teignmouth Pride strongly believes that everyone has the right to live their life as they choose to do so regardless of individual differences, in fact we embrace our differences.

‘What is shocking is that in every community in the UK, and around the world, LGBTQIA+ people are still being abused, thrown out of their homes, and bullied in schools and workplaces.

‘We believe in our community coming together as one and supporting each other.

‘It’s a weekend to support each other and inclusivity for all people in our community.’

The weekend takes place on September 10 and 11 at the Triangle and Hollands Road with events running from 10am until late.

The street party will take place in Hollands Road and a street market, supporting local traders and businesses, will be held on the Triangle between 10am and 5pm.

The organisers say this is the ‘start of something new’ in Teignmouth, recognising individual differences and ‘working for the freedom for all to live their lives as they choose to do so’.

It is hoped the weekend will be the first of other such events in the town.