Highland Council grant permission for first ever Pride march to take place in Caithness as part of Thurso event
Stepping Out have been granted permission by Highland Council to hold Caithness’s first ever Pride parade.
Plans were already well under way from Stepping Out to mark the celebration of LGBTQ+ identities, with stalls and displays coming to Thurso on Saturday, June 21.
However, permission to hold a march was still to be confirmed by Highland Council. That permission was given on Friday afternoon, meaning that Caithness will have its first ever Pride march next month.
The parade will travel along the seafront and into Thurso town centre where, with the help and support of local businesses and community groups, attendees will be entertained by local dancing schools and music from local radio, as well as being able to browse craft and information stalls and enter competitions.
With confirmation now received, it will be the UK mainland’s most northerly Pride march.
It is a prospect which is exciting the Caithness LGBTQ+ community, with one saying: “Its fantastic to see Pride happening in Caithness. It means so much to be able to attend a Pride event locally, where everyone can proudly be who they are.”
Another commented: “I can’t wait to take part in what will undoubtedly be a very colourful, joyous and proud day for Caithness”, while a third added: “I think it is an incredible thing that is happening. Its going to be new, and its always good to bring some light to Caithness”.
As well as the parade itself, there will be a host of events throughout June to mark Pride month.
There will be a banner, placard and badge-making workshop at Stepping Out’s weekly meet-up on Thursday, June 5, before their monthly culture club meet on Sunday, June 8 discussing the iconic movie Pride.
Ahead of the weekend of the Pride march, Sand Owsnett will host a DJ workshop on Thursday, June 19, before the day itself begins with Thurso Parkrun teaming up with Leap Sports Scotland, the nation’s LGBTQ+ sports charity.
Pride will then take over Rotterdam Street between 11am and 3pm, before an official afterparty of pizza and a barbecue at local communal gardens, with local author Kevin Crowe as guest speaker, and a raft of evening entertainment held in local pubs and clubs.
Discovery College are also holding a mask-making workshop at a date still to be confirmed.
Before any of that, Stepping Out will hope to be going into Pride month as award winners, as they are shortlisted for charity/group initiative award at the Proud Scotland Awards, which take place this Friday, May 31.
They are joined in representing Caithness among the nominees by Wick business Highland Gift Shop’s Darren Campbell, who is shortlisted in the community ally category.
Hosting the 2025 Proud Scotland Awards ceremony will be Zander Murray, who recently visited a UHI campus to talk about inclusion in sport and the impact of homophobia.