Tuesday 15th - Sunday 3rd of August

11am-5pm (Free entry)

Location: The Common Room in the MAC, Belfast.  

In 1991, one hundred brave people marched down Royal Avenue in Belfast, waving homemade banners and placards that proudly declared: "We're here, we're queer, and we ain't going anywhere!" This marked the first-ever Belfast Pride, a historic moment for the city’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Since then the LGBTQIA+ community have faced challenges, prejudice, and discrimination amidst the ever-evolving Northern Ireland and global landscape. At the same time celebrating numerous steps forward for equality. As we face an uncertain future, including new laws threatening our rights, the attempted erasure of the Trans community and increased intolerance, we reflect: how has 'pride' changed over the years to become a celebration of visibility, positivity, and inclusion for everyone?

A Queer Dander looks at the history of pride in Belfast by interviewing a small but representative selection of the community on reflecting on the concept of Belfast Pride within the wider context of Northern Ireland, how it came to be and what role it needs to play in our futures.

Curated by Thomas Wells with support from filmmaker Niamh McCann, and commissioned by Belfast Pride and the MAC, the project includes contributions from Ruth McCarthy, Richard O'Leary, Electra, Shogher Doghramajian, Tina McCombe, and Charlie Beare, with special thanks to The Rainbow Project, Boombox Belfast, editor Shaun Doogan, Rebecca Laverty (National Museums NI), PRONI, and Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive (UTV Archive Partnership Project with PRONI and ITV). 

For accessibility information on the venue visit the MAC's website: https://themaclive.com/accessibility

The Common Room can be reached by using the lifts or stairs. There is no booking required and no charge for visiting the exhibition.

Image Credit: Belfast Pride 1991 photographed by David McFarlane, held in PRONI (PRONI ref D4779/8/1). Explore more of David's photographs in our Pride collection: https://digitalfilmarchive.net/collection/belfast-pride-1991-215