LONDON, Ont. — Wortley Pride returns Saturday for its fourth year, promising a safe, inclusive, and family-friendly space that celebrates gender identity and self-expression.
The annual event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Green in Wortley Village and features more than 110 vendors, live performances, and new additions — including a drag show fundraiser.
“Wortley Pride is a family-friendly celebration of true authenticity and gender identity,” said Kathy Bell, president of Wortley Pride. “You can come as who you are, wherever you are in your life, and be fully accepted for your presence at Wortley Pride.”
“We make sure that we have a diverse cast on stage so that everyone can see themselves reflected. That goes for our performers and our vendors,” she said.
This year’s lineup includes a beatboxer, line dancing, and headlining band Off the Cuff, who will perform at 4 p.m.
New this year is a drag show taking place Friday night, June 13, at the Delta Armories’ Castle. A portion of ticket sales will support Wortley Pride.
Bell said Wortley Pride’s importance lies in its ability to provide a safe and affirming space for 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
“It provides our queer young folk — and queer people in general — a safe place to go where they can be accepted for who they are,” she said.
Planning for the event begins in April, with organizers already looking ahead to 2026.
Wortley Pride partners with London Police and the Police Liaison Team to ensure safety throughout the day.
As with many public 2SLGBTQIA+ events, there has been some pushback. Bell acknowledged not everyone supports the presence of queer communities in public
Photo credit: wortleypride.com
spaces but emphasized the importance of peaceful expression.
“We’ve had some haters, but freedom of expression applies to everyone. What we don’t want is targeted hate or violence,” she said. “If anything, the resistance brings our community closer. The spirit of the festival is love and joy.”
When asked about criticism of Pride events, Bell addressed a recurring question she hears: “Why isn’t there a straight pride?”
“Every day is straight pride. Straight, cisgender people can walk down the street holding their loved one’s hand without fear,” she said. “I can’t do that with my wife without wondering if someone will lash out. I’ve been the target of a hate crime, and that makes me cautious. We shouldn’t live in a world like that in 2025.”
Bell also noted that exclusion within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community — particularly around race or identity — remains an issue, and education is part of the solution.
“We all need to be better allies for each other,” she said. “I don’t know a lot about Black queer culture, but I’m making time to learn. A lot of fear comes from a lack of understanding.”
This year, Bell is making a pointed appeal to allies.
“We need allies now more than ever — not just behind us, but beside us or even in front of us to help protect our community,” she said.
She encouraged ongoing support beyond parade day, pointing to monthly events hosted by Wortley Pride.
“Sometimes it’s an open mic, trivia or crafts — but it’s always a safe space,” she said. “If you want to stay involved, go to wortleypride.com and check out what’s coming up.”
Bell said the organization is always open to ideas.
“If you’re a community member and you’ve got a project idea, email us at wortleypridelondon@gmail.com,” she said. “We need community input to keep growing.”
