Somerset County Council proudly raised the Rainbow flag outside County Hall on Monday, July 11 to show support and solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities.

Members of the County Council's Executive and organisers of Taunton Live and Pride celebrated as the flag was raised as part of this year's events.

Councillor Adam Dance, Somerset County Council Executive Lead Member for Public Health, Equalities and Diversity, said: "It was an honour to help raise the Pride flag outside County Hall this morning, and encouraging to see so many people attending to show their support.

"Somerset County Council is proud to show its support for LGBTQ+ people in Somerset, and I am looking forward to seeing the colourful celebrations taking place for Taunton Live and Pride on Saturday."

Taunton Live and Pride will take place on Saturday, July 16. The day begins with the town's first Pride Parade beginning from Goodland Gardens followed by a festival in Vivary Park from 12pm to 8pm featuring music, performers and crafts.

All events are free, you just need to go to www.tauntonliveandpride.co.uk to book a ticket.

Liz Hutchin, Director of Go-Create and one of the organisers of Taunton Live and Pride said: "We need Pride events to show everyone that we celebrate our differences, and it makes our communities much stronger by doing so.

"We hope that the people of Somerset will join our celebrations this Saturday."

Pride celebrations commemorate the Stonewall riots, which happened in New York in June 1969 when it was still illegal to be homosexual in the United States. The first Pride parade was held in New York the following year to mark the first anniversary of the riots, and over the last 40 years Pride has grown and developed into the global celebration we know today.

Pride events today are fun and a celebration of being LGBTQ+, and a chance for allies of the LGBTQ+ community to show their support, but it is important to remember that Pride started as, and remains, a protest against unfair treatment of LGBTQ+ people.

Somerset County Council has an LGBTQ+ employee support network to offer peer-to-peer support, share relevant information, to support and advise the Council on relevant issues if and when needed, and also get involved with community events.

For more information about LGBTQ+ support in Somerset, click here: Out in Somerset.