People from across Ross-shire and wider Highlands set to flock to Inverness for Proud Ness LGBT+ march

PEOPLE from across Ross-shire and the wider Highlands are set to flock to Inverness this weekend for the latest Proud Ness march celebrating the LGBT+ community.

Thousands of people are expected to march through the Highland capital to celebrate the region’s diversity and inclusion – summed up by this year’s theme, ‘We are family’.

And the chair of the event believes the march’s growing profile is crucial for the region’s LGBT+ community, letting people know “they are not alone”, especially those living in isolated, rural and remote parts of Ross-shire and the Highlands at large.

Jess Taylor, who is also a Highland LGBT Forum Committee member, said she has been able to live in the Highlands as a gay woman “largely without issue in recent years” but that there “is still work to be done”.

“Walking on the march at last year’s Proud Ness reminded me that we need to reach out across the Highlands to the LGBT+ community and let people know they are not alone, this is even more crucial for those who live in rural and remote areas,” she added.

This year’s festivities kick off at midday, when gates open at Bught Park. Marchers will then leave Crown Primary School at 1pm for the walk to the park. At 2pm there will be speeches, before live music and stalls entertain the masses in the park from 2.30pm. After parties are also planned. For more details visit proud-ness.org

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