Durham Pride this year became the largest in its history, thanks to unprecedented support from trade unions after Reform UK-controlled Durham County Council withdrew its funding.The council had removed the rainbow flag from its headquarters and declared that Pride would receive no taxpayer money.

However, longstanding solidarity between LGBTQ+ communities and unions, rooted in the miners’ strikes of the 1980s, led organisations such as the Durham Miners’ Association, TUC, CISWO, and Equity to step in.

Their contributions not only replaced the lost £2,500 in council funding but raised approximately £25,000, enabling the event to feature headline acts like Claire Richards from Steps.

Prominent unions including the National Union of Mineworkers, Aslef, Unite, the CWU, and NASUWT participated in the parade, highlighting the ongoing relationship between LGBTQ+ groups and mining communities.Local politicians, such as Labour MP Mary Kelly Foy, emphasised the significance of standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ rights.Participants expressed pride in supporting the event, framing it as a victory against political attempts to undermine it.

The history of cooperation between LGBTQ+ activists and miners, famously depicted in the film Pride, continues to inspire community-led initiatives in smaller towns, reinforcing grassroots solidarity and inclusive cultural celebration.