Filbert Joins Leicester Pride Celebrations
- Filbert Fox joined the crowds at Leicester Pride on Saturday afternoon
- Foxes Pride was also part of the march through the City Centre
- The organisation works to promote the rights of LGBT supporters
- Over 10,000 people joined the celebrations at Victoria Park
A celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, Pride started with a procession through the streets of Leicester before the 10,000-strong crowd gathered at Victoria Park.
Led by a group of drummers, Filbert Fox joined the colourful march from the Curve Theatre in Leicester’s Cultural Quarter, through New Walk and towards the City Centre.
Foxes Pride Join Leicester Parade
Filbert Fox joined the crowds at Leicester Pride on Saturday afternoon along with over 10,000 people joining the celebrations at Victoria Park.
Heralded as the "biggest and best" Pride to have been staged in the city of Leicester to date, it was an occasion which brought the community together with a unique blend of colour and warmth.
The event ended with a festival at Victoria Park, headlined by X Factor band Union J, following on from acts including Sam Bailey and Blazing Squad to have taken to the stage in previous years.
Speaking to LCFC TV at the beginning of the day, Graeme Smith, a keen Leicester City supporter and Chair of Foxes Pride, said: “We are the fans’ group for LGBT supporters and their friends.
"We’re here taking part in the Leicester Pride festival today, walking on the march and being at the park as well later.
“Foxes Pride exists for two reasons. One is to provide a social space for LGBT fans of Leicester City to talk about the football and meet new people.
"The other main thing we do is campaign with the Football Club and other major organisations across the country against homophobia and LGBT-phobia.
“We have meetings with the Club and other organisations, as well as fans, to try and stop things like that happening in football.”
Carol Ward, a Foxes Pride member, added: “It's fantastic. We’ve been walking with the group; the sun is shining, there are lots of people here, young and old, the whole crowd is here so it’s fantastic.
“[Foxes Pride is] a very mixed group of people, male, female. We’ve got different jobs and we have a committee which works closely with the Foxes to raise the profile of people who are homosexual and transgender.
“The majority of us are just normal people going about our day-to-day jobs. My partner has been a Leicester City fan for about 20 years.
“I’ve only been going for the last four years and that’s because I met my partner, who is now my wife, four years ago. Since then, I’ve been an avid Member and Season Ticket Holder.
"I’ve seen all the winning! I’m Leicester through and through now.”