After the great success of last year’s event, Midsomer Norton Pride’s local organisers, Nik Jovcic-Sas and Grant Johnson, are planning something bigger and better than before for the town’s second This year, they will be working closely with Midsomer Norton’s two Secondary Schools; Somervale and Norton Hill, to help eradicate bullying for the LGBTQA+ community and other minority groups in a bid to embrace our differences.

There will be an art competition running alongside the Pride event, where pupils can enter pieces in any medium, focused on the stigma of the LGBTQA+ and BAME communities, with the first prize being a £100 voucher for the store or brand of their choice. Pupils interested in entering should keep an eye out for posters around the school and Nik will be visiting school assemblies with more details.

Nik Jovcic-Sas said: “This year, we are really excited to be working closely with our local Secondary Schools – I originally came up with the idea for Midsomer Norton Pride last year in response to the difficult experiences I had as a gay teenager growing up in the area. Grant Johnson, who helped me organise last year, is also working on this year’s event, alongside Lucy Milner, Sam Billet and Jake Bishop-Ponte.”

Speaking about this year’s event, Nik said: “As many gay and trans people are concerned with everything that’s going on in America, our main Pride festival, due to take place over the weekend of 10th June.

drag and music night this year, ‘Filth & Fame’, takes inspiration from Hollywood.

“We’re going to see the return of international drag star, Cheddar Gorgeous, accompanied by her Manchester sister, Anna Phylactic (who describes herself as “a shock in a frock”). We will also have music from Verdisa (formerly known as the Sam Evans Band).

“A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to the Russian LGBTQA+ network to support their work in Chechnya.”

As well as the Filth and Fame music and drag night, other events will include a Bake-Off in the Town Hall and a film screening – it is also hoped the High Street can be decorated in rainbow colours.

You can watch the promotional video for this year’s event at: www.facebook.com/MidsomerNortonPride/videos/1923291694580874/ For more information and to stay updated on preparations, visit: www.facebook.com/MidsomerNortonPride/