In pictures: Reading Pride 2009
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Reading on Saturday 5 September 2009 to paint the town 'pink' for the annual Pride parade.
The parade and party in Reading's King's Meadow marks the event's sixth anniversary in celebration of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
The event organisers say that the planned protests by extreme right-wing group the National Front, which were cancelled the day before the event, highlights the need to combat discrimination towards the LGBT community.
The one-day event in Kings Meadow was expected to attract up to 15,000 people.
In 2008 Reading Pride had a record attendance of more than 10,500.
Reading Pride is a registered charity run by volunteers and raises funds for voluntary and charitable organisations in the local area that provide information, advice and support on a range of LGBT issues.
This year's festival marks the first outing of the Reading Pride Awards where people who have made a difference to the LGBT Community will be recognised within the town with presentations being made from the main stage.
Acts for Reading Pride 2009 included The Dolly Rockers and Natalie Powers from Scooch.
The new parade route made its way along Reading's busy shopping thoroughfare and through the Forbury Gardens to the festival site at Kings Meadow.
Media officer Jamie Wake said: "It is apparent that our festival is no longer considered Reading Pride – it's Reading's Pride. Today, we are not only proud to be gay, but we are also proud to be Reading citizens".
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