Herts Pride 2019 was a huge success with a record number of visitors celebrating the event

Gathered around to celebrate the county’s LGBT+ community at Cassiobury Park, Watford, on Saturday (August 31).

This year’s #PrideandPrejudice proved to be a huge success, with around 2,500 attendees enjoying the various stalls, a fun fair, big top circus tent and the general live entertainment and festivities.

Acts including Rozalla, known for her hit singles Faith and Everybody’s free and X Factor series 12 contestant Seann Miley Moore took the stage.

One activity which caught the crowd’s attention was the Herts Pride dog show, where many dogs competed for various adorable categories like ‘waggiest tail and ‘best dressed’.

Tyson Martin, the chair of Hertfordshire Pride Society, said: “I was really pleased with the turn out to Cassiobury Park. There was a great attendance and a lot of people said there was a really warm buzz, it was really friendly.”

Watford Observer:

Many Hertfordshire Constabulary officers, staff and volunteers also attended Herts Pride 2019.

Along with their attendance, a fully operational patrol vehicle emblazoned with a rainbow design was also there as a visible reminder of the Constabulary’s support for the LGBT+ community.

Attendees at Pride were able to meet the Constabulary’s LGBT+ liaison officers whose specific role is to encourage the community to report homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crimes to police. The officers also give information, advice and support to victims and witnesses of hate crimes.

This year, the constabulary was ranked 121 out of 445 organisations in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, which looks at workplace culture for LGBT+ staff.

Inspector Steve Alison, chair of the LGBT+ network, said: “Herts Pride is an event we look forward to every year and 2019 didn’t disappoint. We were delighted to be joined by Chief Constable Charlie Hall, Assistant Chief Constable Nat Briant and Chief Superintendent Matt Nicholls, who is the Strategic Lead for Gender Identity and Sexuality.

“It is vital that we show our support for events such as Herts Pride as it helps us to build stronger, cohesive communities and gives a voice to communities that can often be hard to reach.

Various other public bodies also shared their support of the event.

Watford Observer:

South West Herts Labour held a stall at Herts Pride, standing alongside the LGBTQ+ community.

Hertfordshire County Council raised a LGBT+ flag prior to the day:

Herts Pride first started in 2013, and it has seen an increasing level of support each year.