Teen pop singer Ariana Grande made an emotional return to Manchester to headline this year’s Pride celebrations. Manchester Pride marked Grande’s first time performing in the city since her One Love benefit concert in 2017, which raised millions for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. Other artists headlining the project included Years&Years, Banananrama, Cheryl, Emeli Sande, Faithless and Pixie Lott.
This year's theme was Deep Space Pride: A Future World of Equality, with intergalactic drag queens, shiny spaceships and astronauts aplenty. The futuristic theme invited people to imagine what the future could look like for the LGBT+ community, while commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a watershed moment in the gay liberation movement.
However, the parade this year also saw anti-trans protestors lead it after they hijacked the front of the march, leaving some trans women fearing for their safety. Since, no criminal offences were committed so no arrests were made.
