Highland Council to fly Rainbow Flag for Proud Ness

2nd July 2019

The Highland Council will fly the Rainbow Flag, the symbol of the LBGT+ rights movement, in Inverness during the weekend of 20 and 21 July to show support for Proud Ness 2019.

Convenor of the Highland Council, Cllr Bill Lobban said:"Last October, thousands of people from the LGBT+ community, their family and friends and members of the wider community, turned up to march through Inverness with a clear message that the Highlands is an inclusive place where we promote fairness and welcome diversity. I am pleased that Highland Council is able to show its support for Proud Ness 2019 and that the Rainbow Flag will again fly at both the Town House and at the Council's Headquarters on Glenurquhart Road."

Proud Ness takes place this year on Sunday 21 July, starting with a parade leaving Crown Primary School at 1pm marching towards Bught Park where the main event will take place until 5pm. This year Proud Ness organisers - a group set up by the Highland LGBT Forum - have worked closely with the Council on a new outdoor summer format for the event.

Chair of the Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group, Cllr Graham Ross said: "I am very pleased that the Council has been able to support the Proud Ness organisers with the development of their exciting event. Behind the scenes there has been a lot of work undertaken over the past 6 months to create the perfect home for Proud Ness at the Inverness Gala Day in Bught Park; and we are really looking forward to seeing the Proud Ness marchers coming along the riverside to join us. We believe that this could be the biggest parade of the year as the marchers will be accompanied by walkers raising funds for mental health charity Mikey's Line and competitors getting ready to take part in the new Ruff Ness Dog Show in Bught Stadium. It promises to be an unforgettable sight."

Jessica Taylor, Proud Ness Chair and event organiser, said:"Proud Ness 2018 was the LGBT+ community's first large-scale pride event in the Highlands and we were delighted with the support from people in the Highlands and beyond. We hope to see a similar family-friendly celebration of inclusion by the LGBT+ community and our allies this year."
The theme for this year's Proud Ness is "We are family" and Council staff and elected members will be encouraged to join the parade in support of their LGBT+ family members, friends and colleagues.

Proud Ness web site

See map for possible parking places.