Forest Gayte Pride CIC is a grassroots community project based in the East London neighbourhood of Newham. Since our inception in 2017, Forest Gayte Pride has grown from a single market stall and a queer night in a local pub to an organised Community Interest Company. As a committee, we work alongside allies and volunteers within our community on events and functions to promote and engage in educational, cultural and civic activities in order to enrich the lives of LGBTQIA+ people in Newham and beyond.

Our primary aim is to give a voice to LGBTQIA+ residents of Newham through events and education; creating a platform for the queer community to speak out and express themselves in a safe, inclusive space, during pride and beyond. We work to create a safe and welcoming environment within the community for those at risk, in particular the marginalised members of Newham, offering help, advice and support to those who need it, as well as educating and engaging with the allies who want to stand by the LGBTQIA+ community.

An Open Letter to Our Community

After eight incredible years of leading Forest Gayte Pride, Caron Harrison and I, Rob DesRoches, have made the heartfelt decision to step down. This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary—a labor of love filled with passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to our vibrant queer community.

Together, we have built something truly special. We've watched Forest Gayte Pride grow from an idea into a thriving, inclusive movement—Newham’s only Pride event and one of a handful of the original six grassroots Prides in London to be still be operating. We’ve faced challenges, but each event, every moment of connection, and all the visibility we’ve fostered have reinforced why this work matters. Seeing our community flourish has been the greatest reward.

As we transition out of our leadership roles, one thing is clear: Forest Gayte Pride must continue. It began because real change was needed—because mainstream Pride events were not reflecting the diverse voices of our community. We created this space to be truly inclusive, and the response from the community who were positive and committed, helped shape who we are today. But there’s still more work to do. We’re not there yet. We need to be more inclusive and diverse than ever before.

Now, we are calling on you—our community—to help carry this legacy forward. We are actively seeking passionate individuals to form a new committee that will guide Forest Gayte Pride into the future into a new direction. This committee must reflect the full diversity of our community and be filled with dedicated people who can bring fresh energy, vision, and skills to the table. While volunteers have always been at the heart of FGP, what has been most challenging is finding those willing to step up and take on the behind-the-scenes work—organizing, negotiating contracts, liaising with businesses, and ensuring each event comes to life.

We believe this next chapter is full of potential, and we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition. If a dedicated team of 4-6 people comes forward by the end of April 2025, Caron and I will stay on to ensure that Forest Gayte Pride 2025 takes place on June 27th, 28th, and 29th.

This is your opportunity to be part of something truly meaningful—to shape the future of Pride in Newham and beyond. If this sounds like something you’d like to be involved in, please reach out to us filling out the following form https://forms.gle/E3yhYFbHx1ovEMdX6

We can’t wait to hear from you. Please click the link to show your interest in becoming an organiser and community leader with Forest Gayte Pride. There will be a community meeting to establish a steering group at the Gate Library in Forest Gate on 24th April, 2025. 6pm-7pm. Google Meets will be available through the following link for those that cannot attend in person: https://calendar.app.google/wSQ3AsxQArJ9SWxb8

With love and pride,

Rob DesRoches & Caron Harrison

we Want to come back with a Bang! so put Friday, Saturday, Sunday the 27th, 28th and 29th of June 2025 in your diaries now for Forest Gayte Pride 2025!

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EVENTS CALENDAR.