THERE was a strong turnout at the Forth Valley Pride event in Alloa’s Bowmar Community Centre last weekend.

Around 100 people showed up to see what was on offer on Saturday, August 10.

The event was organised by the Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC), LGBT Youth Scotland and S-X.

Their aim was to make a positive expression against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and other LGBTI+ people.

In doing so, they hoped to promote the community’s identity, dignity, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group and celebrate sexual diversity.

At Forth Valley Pride they laid on a number of attractions for attendees, including various arts and crafts stalls and information points from a range of organisations.

There was also a stall from the Scottish Ambulance Service, who had brought an ambulance decorated in a rainbow flag to mark the occasion.

Elaine Hill, from CSREC, told the Advertiser: “There was about 100 people who showed up, and it was a nice steady flow of people throughout the day.

“It was great; we had some music playing in the background – it was lovely.

“There were a lot of happy people with smiles on their faces."

She added: "There was various stalls from suitable organisations, such as LGBT Youth Scotland.

“We had arts and crafts, rock painting, face painting – lots of painting.”

The event aimed to attract as many people as possible, not just those from the LGBT community.

And according to Elaine, it did just that as a diverse mix of people showed up throughout the day.

Forth Valley Pride was the second similar event in Alloa following a rainbow-clad procession in August 2016, which came in the wake of a homophobic hate incident earlier that year.

For information about upcoming Pride events, visit tinyurl.com/y5lt29bc