Dover Pride Statement (posted 20/04/26):

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Dover Pride to provide year-round support for LGBTQIA+ and allies

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Dover Pride has announced a new approach for 2026, moving away from its annual large-scale event and instead delivering a year-long programme of smaller, community-led activities, at a time when organisers say LGBTQIA+ spaces are “more important than ever.”

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Over the past seven years, Dover Pride has brought thousands of people together in celebration, protest and visibility, creating a vital space for belonging and self-expression in the town.

But like many Pride organisations across the UK, it has faced an increasingly challenging funding and sponsorship landscape, making large-scale annual events harder to sustain.

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At the same time, organisers say the need for Pride and for safe, visible LGBTQIA+ community spaces continues to grow.

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In response, Dover Pride is using 2026 as a year to refocus: prioritising wellbeing, strengthening local connections and investing in the long-term future of Pride in Dover.

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The shift also comes as the organisation’s founders and several long-standing team members step back, with a new generation of organisers stepping forward to continue the work. 

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Pride founders Frazer Doyle and Emma Sikora have said: “Pride has always been about more than a single event. It’s about community, inclusivity and standing together: and that doesn’t stop. We’re incredibly proud of what’s been built and excited to see it evolve.”

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The next generation of organisers are keen to continue Dover Pride’s Success and ensure its longevity. They have stated: “Right now, spaces for LGBTQIA+ people to connect, feel safe and be visible are more important than ever. This year is about protecting and strengthening that, so Pride in Dover can continue long into the future.”

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Partners have emphasised the importance of sustaining Pride beyond a single annual moment.

Lisa Oulton, founder and director of Pride partner Future Foundry, has said:

“Dover Pride has been built through years of dedication, care and resilience - and that work matters deeply. Across the country, Pride events are facing increasingly difficult funding conditions, yet the need for community, solidarity and support has never been greater. We fully support this shift to strengthen the foundations and ensure Pride in Dover continues to thrive.”

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Dover Pride will continue to deliver events and activities throughout 2026, starting with a fundraiser in partnership with the Anxious Pickle Club on the 25th April 2026, 7-11pm at Biggin Hall, Biggin Street Dover (CT16 1BD).

 

Tickets available online here, or through Instagram @theanxiouspickleclub. Please contact pridedover@gmail.com for any enquiries. 

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Further details of Dover Pride 2026 events and activities will be announced in the coming months.

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​Share Your Voice: Help Us Grow Even Stronger

Now that we’ve celebrated, it’s time to listen—and that’s where you come in.

Please take a few minutes to fill in our Dover Pride 2025 Feedback Form to let us know:

• What you loved most

• What we could do better next year

• Any ideas, thoughts, or suggestions you’d like to share

Your feedback is essential—not only will it help improve future celebrations, but it also strengthens our case when applying for funding, ensuring our Pride events remain free, accessible, and community-driven. All responses are anonymous and confidential.

Fill out the feedback form here

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Volunteering

Volunteer Applications are now open for Dover Pride 2025! Volunteering is a great way to support the event and local prides making the day run as best as possible! Check out the application link here.

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Dover Pride Statement (Posted 07/07/25):

In light of the recent situation involving Kent County Council (KCC), Dover Pride stands in strong opposition to the removal and restriction of transgender-related books in our public library system.

What has happened?
On 3rd July 2025,  Kent County Council, now led by Reform UK, claimed that “they removed transgender-related books from the children’s sections of its 99 public libraries and mobile services.” 

The council leader, Linden Kemkaran, claimed this as a “victory for common sense,” arguing that children should not be exposed to stories about being “born in the wrong body.”

This move was triggered by Councillor Paul Webb, the new Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services. Paul Webb issued the instruction without any formal discussion, vote, or consultation with library staff, councillors, or the public. We do not know what exactly was in those instructions. At this moment in time, trans related literature is still available at all Kent’s libraries. 
There was no evidence presented that any inappropriate materials had been placed in children's sections. 
The book most notably targeted in the controversy - “The Autistic Trans Guide to Life” by Yenn Purkis - was not even placed in the children’s section. It was on a general public display table and has since been moved to the adult nonfiction section. 

Why queer literature matters:
Representation in books is not optional - it is essential.
Queer children and young people deserve to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. Literature helps young people feel seen, affirmed, and understood. It educates peers, builds empathy, and combats stigma.
As Erin from @thefolkestonebookshop said in the interview with BBC “Books don’t make kids trans, but they do let them know that they are loved.”

What can we do about it?
We refuse to let queer voices be erased. Here's how we fight back:

1. Borrow queer and trans-related books. Especially children's books. 

2. Search the catalogue and borrow inclusive titles. Circulation data matters - if books are being borrowed, they're more likely to stay.

3. Follow up on the FOI (freedom of information) request from @transpire_southend More Info here. Support queer young people. Talk to them. Listen to their concerns. Let them know this decision doesn’t reflect their worth. If you're a teacher, youth worker, or carer, stock affirming books in your own space.

4. Amplify this issue: Share this statement. Share news articles. Attend council meetings. Let the public know this matters.

Dover Pride’s commitment
We are proud to stand with trans and queer people across Kent and beyond. We believe in a world where everyone is free to be themselves, free to read about themselves, and free to thrive.

We are currently discussing next steps of action, which could include; fundraisers for books, making a platform to give to young queer people who could be directly affected by this. 

This is not just about books. It’s about whose stories are allowed to be told.

We will not let those stories be silenced.