Medway Pride 2023 was a fabulous event, thank you to everyone involved in producing and creating such a fun day. We also thank everyone who attended any of the events during the Fringe Pride and Pride festival at Rochester Castle. We are busy putting together photo albums and creating a report on the outcomes for our funding partners. You voice is an important part of the feedback we use to produce the report. We are asking you to complete a short survey so we can include your feedback in our report.

Please vist thank you for your support, I could not produce Medway Pride without it. Please do fill out our after pride survey, it informs our report to funders and helps fund Medway Pride 2024 

Medway Pride Survey

Getting to Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle Check the link for more information about the castle including accessablity

There are plenty of ways to get to Rochester, from both near and far!

If you’re local, the following Arriva buses go via Rochester. You can check timetables and routes on their website.

• 133 Chatham to Cliffe
• 140 Earl Estate to Chatham
• 141 Earl Estate to Chatham
• 145 Chatham to Warren Wood
• 155 Chatham to Maidstone
• 190 Gravesend to Chatham
• 700 Chatham to Bluewater

These ASD Coaches buses go via Rochester too. Timetables and routes here

• 156 Chatham to Chatham
• 197 Chatham to Lodge Hill

And these Nu-Venture buses stop at Rochester also. Their website is here

• 142 Kit’s Coty to Chatham
• 172 Chatham to Liberty Park
• 173 Chatham to Lodge Hill Lane

If you’re coming from further afield, National Express run coaches from London Victoria to the Kent coast, with drops/pickups at Bluewater and Hempstead Valley shopping centres, both of which are served by buses that go through Rochester. Tap the route number for more info.

• Route 007 Dover to Victoria Coach Station stopping at
  • Folkstone, Canterbury, University of Kent at Canterbury, Whitstable, Hempstead Valley (then Viabus 132 to Rochester) Eltham, Lewisham and Elephant & Castle
• Route 022 Victoria Coach Station To Ramsgate stopping at
  • Elephant & Castle, Walworth New Cross Gate, Lewisham, Eltham, Bluewater (then Sapphire 700 to Rochester), University of Kent at Canterbury, Canterbury, Birchington, Westgate, Margate, Cliftonville, Northdown Park, St Peters and Broadstairs,

By rail

Medway has five main rail stations: Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham. All have frequent services from London Victoria and Charing Cross. High speed trains also link Medway to London’s St. Pancras International in just 35 minutes.

Southeastern offers a range of value for money train fares. For more information visit www.southeasternrailway.co.uk 

To plan your journey by rail phone 08457 484950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com.

If you’re driving there’s a decent amount of parking in or near Rochester. Chatham’s a bit further away, but has loads of carparks and plenty of buses run from there to the Castle.

ROCHESTER

Blue Boar Lane    Blue Boar Lane,  ME1 1PD  cash/RingGo

Berkeley House    The Terrace,  ME1 1EZ  cash/RingGo

Rochester Station    High Street,  ME1 1HQ  cash/RingGo

Corporation Street    Corporation Street,  ME1 1NH  cash/RingGo

Rochester Riverside     ME1 1GR  cash/RingGo

High Street Station    High Street,  ME1 1HY  cash/RingGo

King Street     ME1 1YD  cash/RingGo

High Street Furrells   High Street,  ME1 1JA  cash/RingGo

Cathedral Rochester    (Disabled) Northgate, ME1 1LX  cash/RingGo

Almon Place     ME1 1LN  cash/RingGo

Union Street     ME1 1XS  cash/RingGo

Boley Hill    CLOSED During the event 

Kings Head Disabled    CLOSED During the event 

STROOD

Commercial Road    ME2 2AD  cash/RingGo

Grove Road   ME2 4BL  cash/RingGo

Temple Street    ME2 4T H  cash/RingGo

CHATHAM

Chatham Riverside    Dock Road, ME4 4SL  cash/RingGo

Church Street    ME4 4PT  cash/RingGo

James Street    ME4 4DT  cash/RingGo

Market Hall    Cross Street, ME4 4LT  cash/RingGo

Old Road    ME4 6BJ  cash/RingGo

Queen Street   ME4 4LU  cash/RingGo

Rhode Street    ME4 4AL  cash/RingGo

Slicketts Hill    ME4 4LT  cash/RingGo

St John’s    Waterfront Way, ME4 4JL  cash/RingGo

The Brook    ME4 4LA   cash/card

The Paddock    Rome Terrace, ME4 4RE  cash/RingGo

Town Hall    Whiffens Avenue, ME4 4SF  cash/RingGo

Upper Mount    Old Road, ME4 6BP  cash/RingGo

You could also try JustPark, which is like Airbnb for cars! You can book parking spaces of all sorts, from private driveways to supermarket carparks. Availability can be found here.

We really don’t want to miss out on what promises to be a fabulous day, so if we think of anything else, we’ll put it on here and post on facebook about it!

TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2023 AT 7 PM – 1 AM

The Ship Inn, Rochester

The Ship are holding a fund raiser to help with the cost of Medway pride. They have the fantastic Drag With No Name plus some great raffle prizes supplied by local businesses and face painting, pride memorabilia on sale plus pride candy floss what more could u ask for. we are charging £2 to see the amazing Drag with no name all proceeds going to pride plus bring cash to get raffle tickets and pride shots

WHAT IS IDAHOBIT?

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex people, and all of those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

Initially managed by the IDAHO Committee, the initiative is now collectively managed in collaboration between regional and thematic networks working to advance the rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. This collaboration brings together organisations and initiatives at global, regional, national, and local levels.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is currently celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal. Thousands of initiatives, big and small, are reported throughout the planet.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia has received official recognition from several States, international institutions such as the European Parliament, and by countless local authorities. Most United Nations agencies also mark the Day with specific events.

THEME IN 2023: TOGETHER ALWAYS: UNITED IN DIVERSITY

This year’s theme, “Together always: united in diversity,” was decided through a large consultation with LGBTQIA+ organisations from around the world.

This theme will allow for advocacy and celebrations in many forms – be them from human rights defenders, LGBTQIA+ civil society groups, millions of people in our communities, and our allies.

In a time where the progress made by our LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide is increasingly at risk, it is crucial to recognise the power of solidarity, community, and allyship across different identities, movements, and borders. When we unite, in all our beautiful diversity, we can really bring about change!

By coming together and raising our voices, we can make a difference in the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities worldwide.

What is May 17?

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The Day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, local authorities, etc. to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

May 17 is now celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal. Thousands of initiatives, big and small, are reported throughout the planet.

The International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia has received official recognition from several States, international institutions such as the European Parliament, and by countless local authorities. Most United Nations agencies also mark the Day with specific events.

Even if every year a “global focus issue” is promoted, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is not one centralised campaign; rather it is a moment that everyone can take advantage of to take action, on whatever issue and in whatever format that they wish.

Many different entities participate in the global mobilisation around May 17 and as a consequence it receives many different names. Some organisations add Lesbophobia or Intersexphobia as distinct focuses. Acronyms also vary, from the initial IDAHO to IDAHOT or IDAHOBIT. The Day is not one central trademarked brand and everyone is free to communicate as they wish.

Nevertheless, we have seen lately that several groups translate the “I” with “intersexism”. We have consulted with Intersex organisations who consider this term to be vague and misleading. We therefore ask everyone to please refrain from using the term “intersexism” and prefer the term “intersexphobia”. Please also note that the name of the Day currently does not explicitly include Intersexphobia as there is no global consensus among the Intersex communities that this should be included in the remit of May 17.

Initially managed by the IDAHO Committee, the initiative is now collectively managed in collaboration between regional and thematic networks working to advance the rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. This collaboration brings together organizations and initiatives at global, regional, national and local levels.

IDAHOBIT UK

Country page 2022 – UK