About Porty Pride

Porty Pride is an annual pride event run by the LGBTQ+ community of Portobello, Edinburgh.

We exist to celebrate diversity, build visibility and strengthen community in Portobello — throughout the year, and for many years to come.

We see community as a positive tool of activism and community-building as a powerful way to tackle social injustices.

“They burned our flag and we said no!”

Our Story

Porty Pride began in 2021 during the Covid-19 lockdown.

With traditional Pride marches cancelled, the visibility and support that many LGBTQ+ people rely on were at risk. This was combined with anti-trans stickers appearing in the neighborhood and the Progress flag of a LGBTQ+ owned cafe being burned - we decided something needed to be done.

To mark Pride Month that year, we flew Progress flags along Portobello High Street.

We asked local businesses to display the Progress flag in their windows in an act of solidarity.

The display created a positive, welcoming atmosphere for the local community and demonstrated that Pride can be expressed safely and creatively, even when we can’t gather in large crowds.

We launched the first Porty Pride in June 2022.

The in-person event brought together street parties, family-friendly activities and community-focused programming. The shared sense of solidarity and celebration made it clear Portobello wanted — and needed — a local Pride.

The Team

Porty Pride is made possible year-on-year by all its amazing volunteers without whom all this wouldn’t be possible!

Over 30 people volunteer their time over the weekend to make Porty Pride happen.

There’s a small Organising Committee of 9 dedicated volunteers who organise Porty Pride alongside full time jobs and caring commitments.

It’s about making a political statement, celebrating all that we are, free and without fear.

Kate Gillwood
Porty Pride Organising Committee

It’s hard work but it’s worth it. Seeing what it means to people makes it all worthwhile.

Rea Cris
Porty Pride Organising Committee

We were Scotland’s First Fossil Free Pride

Climate change affects LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals around the world.

In recognition of the climate emergency we are in, we pledge:

  • To adopt a publicly available ethical sponsorship policy

  • Not to accept sponsorship from or partnership with fossil fuel companies

  • Not accept sponsorship from or partnership with financial institutions funding fossil fuel companies

We are an Apartheid Free Zone

The Apartheid Free Zones campaign is a global initiative to transform our local communities into spaces of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality and justice.

In solidarity with the Palestinian people, we pledge:

  • To support the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign

  • Not accept sponsorship from, or enter into partnerships with, any company or institution that funds or supports activities in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories, manufactures arms, or supplies surveillance technology used in Israel.