Gay Pride festival begins in Dublin

Thousands are expected to attend this year's Dublin Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & Queer Pride Festival, which is kicking off today.

The festival, which will run for the next 10 days, is one of the largest nationwide, with more than 50 events being held.

"Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival 2011 is the most ambitious to date with an expanded programme and a focus on diverse events that will appeal to people from all communities,” said Jo McNamara, Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival chairperson.

"€2.8m was generated for the city from the 2010 Festival.

"This year we have also seen the engagement of big brands including Google Android and 98FM as sponsors and Carroll’s Gifts & Souvenirs, who are creating special Dublin Pride Festival merchandise.

"This demonstrates the positive evolution of Pride since its humble beginnings in 1983 and the advances that have even occurred this year with Civil Partnership, openly gay people elected to the Dáil and the Equality Tribunal’s landmark decision in relation to transphobia in the workplace

"To start the festival this weekend people can enjoy a ‘Walking Tour of Historic Gay Dublin’ on Saturday, June 18 at 2pm from Merrion Square or at 3.15pm enjoy camp exuberance with ‘Can’t Stop the Music’, the film story of the Village People at The New Theatre.

"On Sunday June 20 families can enjoy a ‘Family Day, Sports Day and Dog Show’ from 2pm in Ringsend Park and in the evening experience a host of poetic and musical talent from the LGBTQ community at the ‘Rainbow Rooms Art Night’ at 7pm in The Grand Social."