ORGANISERS of Glasgow's Pride March have announced the date for this year's event.

Pride Mardi Gla was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, an additional blow for the city's LGBT+ communities as 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of Pride marches.

But now, on the final day of Pride Month, it has been revealed that the rainbow flag will be carried through the city on September 4.

Daniel Syme, chairman of the organising committee, said: "Covid has been so tough for everyone, but particularly the LGBT+ communities as we have seen a large increase in hate crimes in Scotland and also the rise of brutality and removal of legal rights across Eastern Europe.  

"It is no surprise that LGBT communities have seen some of the sharpest rises in mental health decline and, tragically, suicides.

"It is therefore right that we hold a march to show people they are not alone and also give our allies the chance to march with us and show support for equality."

Glasgow’s Pride Mardi Gla is working with Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland and Public Health to ensure the march can continue through Glasgow in a vibrant display of the continuing fight for equality.

The last march was held in 2019 when almost 10,000 marchers walked from Kelvingrove Park to George Square.

Glasgow Times:

Last year marches worldwide were replaced by a special online Global Pride which had 57 million viewers globally and marked the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march, which took place in New York in 1960.

With most pride events again cancelled in 2021, Glasgow organisers said they are delighted to join Manchester on August 28 and London, on September 11, in ensuring that there will be three weekends in a row to fly the rainbow flag with pride across the UK.

Scottish Government figures show that in 2020 there were 1486 hate crimes against people due to their sexuality.

With the exception of 2014/15, there have been year on year increases in charges reported since the relevant legislation came into force in 2010.

There were 41 charges reported in 2019/20 with an aggravation of transgender identity, compared to 40 in 2018/19.

A spokesman for Pride Mardi Gla added: "Across Scotland this shows that even in this day and age Pride marches are relevant as a main tool for LGBT+ communities to win hearts and minds - something that has been lost over the past 16 months due to the virus."