FOR the first time in Swindon Pride's ten year history, Advertiser journalists will be taking part in today's parade.

Gary Lawrence, Newsquest's regional editor for Oxfordshire and Wiltshire is wholly behind the events.

He said: "When the first Pride event took place in Swindon a decade ago it was seen largely as a fringe event that involved a minority group.

"In 2017, with the possible exception of the half marathon, it will be the biggest, noisiest and most colourful event on the streets of the town this year.

"It is as much a celebration of life in Swindon as it is of the way anyone chooses to live their life. It is vibrant, it is passionate and above all else it is joyous. Don’t we all want a bit of that in our life?

"I hope everyone involved has a fantastic time."

Adver deputy editor Michelle Tompkins said: "It is 10 years since Swindon Pride first hit the town's streets... and what a long way it has come in that time.

"What started as a small celebration of Swindon's diversity is now one of the biggest events in the social calendar, and today, more than 350 people and several vehicles - including a rainbow-coloured fire engine - are due to parade through the streets of Old Town before joining thousands of others at the Town Gardens for a giant party.

"Among those parading will be a group of Advertiser staff, wearing rainbow-coloured T-shirts and blowing their whistles to make as much noise as possible, in recognition of how much attitudes towards homosexuality have shifted since the dark days of the 1950s and 60s.

"You will also have seen that our front page masthead has had a colourful makeover today in a show of our support for this fantastic event.

"Sadly, as we report earlier in the paper, not everyone in our town is open-minded towards the LGBT community. There will always be a prejudiced few who believe lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people should never be seen, let alone heard.

"To them, we say it's time to take off the blinkers and wake up to our wonderfully-diverse modern world.

"We are proud to be backing today's 10th anniversary party... and we will wear our rainbow colours with pride."