King's Meadow turned into Queen's Meadow for the day when Reading's first ever Gay Pride festival kicked off on Saturday 4th September. Around 4,000 people flocked to the free event that was awash with colour, entertainment and glorious sunshine.
Main stage host(ess) Sue Panova set the glam standard in her glittery stars 'n' stripes outfit, while other drag acts such as Belfast's Rose Garden gave us a peek of her well-formed derriere - don't get too jealous ladies! Among all the huge wigs, tight cocktail dresses and killer heels were other singing acts such as the blue platform-booted Urban Cookie Collective, who belted out their 1993 hit 'The Key, The Secret', sultry brunette Natalie Powers and acclaimed vocalist Charlene, who had the hit I've Never Been To Me. There was also a VIP area, a dance tent, a Wynford Arms tent, a beauty parlour and a blessings tent as well as scores of clothes, food and information stalls. Even the burly firefighters parked up with their fire engine to hand out leaflets about joining the Reading brigade. A more popular hand-out however were the free condoms from an H.I.V prevention society stall. Click on the right-hand links to see the photo gallery.
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