Jersey Pride called off due to covid

Wednesday 21 July 2021

Jersey's Pride parade and festival have had to be cancelled in light of the island's high levels of covid.

The colourful celebration of the island's LGBTQ+ community was due to take place on 21 August, involving a parade throughout town and on-stage performers, food and drink stalls, a silent disco, and a range of family friendly activities at Les Jardins de la Mer.

It was also hoped that the event would be a way of attracting visitors to the island.

As a precaution, organisers had stipulated that attendees would have to be fully vaccinated against covid or tested for the virus in advance.

Despite this measure, organisers announced "with sincere regret" tonight that it had been decided to call off Pride altogether because the event could not go ahead safely.

Sorry to have to announce that @CI_Pride is postponed in Jersey. We tried our best to make it happen, but with COVID numbers rising again we cannot go ahead safely. Working to still mark the day for everyone. https://t.co/1rrtckUX2y

— DIFERA (@LiberateJersey) July 21, 2021

“We want to host a Pride that is inclusive, welcoming, and above all safe. Although we have planned extensive safety measures, neither we, nor our sponsors, would want to proceed with an event that could pose a risk to attendees," Director Christian May said.

"I am very sorry for the Islanders and visitors who will be disappointed by this outcome. Safety has always been paramount in the organisation of Pride, and this is the right decision; albeit a very difficult one to make.”

The announcement came as latest Government figures showed there to be more than 3,000 covid cases on the island, with 13 people in hospital with the illness, and 13 care home residents also infected. 

Pictured: Organisers said Pride could not safely go ahead in light of the spread of covid in Jersey.

Guernsey's planned celebrations will still be going ahead, however.

In place of the parade, Jersey's Pride Committee are asking islanders to mark the day by flying rainbow flags or creating their own flags at home, and posting photos online with the hashtag #CIPride2021.