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Doncaster Pride link up with NUM

Chart star Sonique will close the day's celebrations at today's Doncaster Pride.

Pride will take place in Sir Nigel Gresley Square and is the second year back in the town centre after three at the Keepmoat Stadium. It will run from 1pm to 9:15pm.

Doncaster Pride Credit: ITV Yorkshire

The annual cerlebration of lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender culture has teamed up this year with local branch NUM and local collieries, including recently closed Hatfield Colliery, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the miners return to work after the strike.

"It was too good an opportunity to miss. Living in the heart of the Yorkshire coalfield we just had to do something to recreate the London Pride March of 1985 where the massed collieries and marching bands led the Pride London March through the streets of London to show solidarity with the lgbt community who had supported them through the strike.

"We approached the NUM locally and they have been extremely supportive. There will be miners carrying banners, Women Against Pit Closures and possibly even the LGSM members from London will join us.

"We have managed, through the support given to us by the NUM, to book the Sheffield City Pipe Band to lead our march and we've given the mining communities of Doncaster a reason to march, unfurl their banners proudly and lead our walk through the streets of Doncaster."

– Jenny Dewsnap, event organiser

The march is only part of what promises to be a colourful day with a main stage featuring over 8 hours of dance, music and drag as well as the regular array of market stalls, fairground rides and information providers - including Doncaster Pride's own Big Lottery funded Youth Project that is working in Doncaster schools to help support young people, families and educators to stamp out homophobia in schools.

The three year project also provides training for staff as well as sessions for young people to raise awareness of the effects of homophobic bullying as well as how to deal with issues around sexuality.