Dublin Pride announce Belong To – LGBTQ Youth Ireland as Grand Marshall for this year’s Parade. 

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the first Dublin Pride march.50 years ago, on the 27^th of June 1974, a handful of students came together for the first LGBTQ+ demonstration on the island of Ireland, the first Dublin Pride march. As we mark this milestone anniversary and celebrate half a century of Pride in the city, we are delighted to announce that we have chosen Belong To -LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland as Grand Marshall to lead out our march and parade on Saturday June 29^th. 

Commenting on this, Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO, Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland said: 

“As the national LGBTQ+ youth organisation, Belong To is absolutely thrilled and honoured to join Dublin Pride as Grand Marshall as they celebrate 50 years of Dublin Pride. 

For over two decades, we have been there supporting LGBTQ+ young people when they need us providing information, guidance, and a place to come together, have fun and embrace who they are. This is what Pride is all about! 

This year, as we see increasing levels of hate directed at our community, we need a space to not only celebrate, but also unite, more than ever. We are overjoyed to lead this year’s Pride and can’t wait to embody this year’s theme and ‘Shine’ alongside hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth who will join Belong To at the parade in June. 

For many of these young people, this is their first time being out and proud and joining the wider community to celebrate their authentic selves. Pride means so much to the LGBTQ+ youth that we support, and we are grateful to Dublin Pride to mark their by 50^th anniversary by selecting the next generation of change-makers as the Grand Marshall.” 

As we celebrate our golden jubilee, the theme of this year’s Dublin Pride festival is ‘Shine’  

Shine means to give forth light, but it also means to cast light into dark places, or to restore the brilliance of things that have gotten dull. Pride celebrates the light we all hold, but it is brightest when it is shared. We invite you to shine, both in your own Pride, and to be a light for those who may be in the dark right now. 

Join us on Saturday June 29^th and help light our march. 

Ends 

Notes to editors 

About Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride 

The 2024 Dublin Pride festival kicks off on June 20^th with a concert in the National Concert Hall celebrating 50 years of Dublin Pride through music and song. This event in collaboration with the RTE National Concert orchestra and features artists including Wallis Bird, Shobsy and more. For more details see https://www.nch.ie/all-events-listing/shine/  

The 10-day festival features approximately 100 different community and cultural events across the city and county. The festival culminates with the annual Dublin Pride march and Parade on Saturday June 29^th. Over 15,000 people from 300 different groups take part in the Parade with up to 100,000 people lining the streets and joining in as it makes its way from O’Connell Street to Merrion Square. Following the parade there are 2 major Pride festival events. 

*Pride Village – This is a free event in and around Merrion Square and is open from 1pm to 6pm. It includes a main stage with performances throughout the day as well as community and food zones. See https://dublinpride.ie/pride-village/ for more details. 

*Mother Pride Block Party – Back with a bang for a spectacular party celebrating Pride in our city. Returning to the glorious surroundings of the National Museum, the Pride Block Party is the biggest annual Pride Party on our island. See https://dublinpride.ie/mother/ for more details.  

*subject to licence 

2024 is also the 50^th anniversary of the Irish Gay Rights Movement and the establishment of The Switchboard support service. For more details see https://www.theswitchboard.ie/about  

Media contacts for Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride 

Jamie Kenny – Executive Director (Co-CEO)  

jamie@dublinpride.ie 085 1549589 

Jed Dowling – Festival Director (Co-CEO) 

jed.dowling@dublinpride.ie 086 2626277 

About Belong To 

• Belong To, LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland is a national organisation supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) young people. Since 2003, Belong To has worked with LGBTQ+ youth and family members to create a world where they are equal, safe and thriving. The organisation advocates and campaigns on behalf of LGBTQ+ young people and offers a specialised LGBTQ+ youth service including crisis counselling with Pieta, information, and the provision of LGBTQ+ youth groups across Ireland. Belong To also supports educators and professionals working with LGBTQ+ youth in their homes, schools and communities.  
• Belong To, recently published a report on the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBTQI+ community alongside Trinity College Dublin. The findings, show a stark deterioration in the mental health of LGBTQI+ youth since the first iteration of this report in 2016. Full report and Key Findings available here: https://www.belongto.org/support-our-work/advocacy/lgbtq-research/being-lgbtqi-in-ireland-2024/ 

Media Contact for Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland 

• Belong To CEO, Moninne Griffith, is available for interview. To arrange an interview, please contact: Sinead Keane, Director of Communications and Advocacy: 087 768 0389/ sinead@belongto.org