City turns pink as record numbers flock to celebrate gay pride
12000 people turned out in Newcastle upon Tyne on Saturday July 17 for Northern Pride, North East England's biggest gay pride event.The fun started at 12 noon when 1500 members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community, their families and friends set off from Newcastle Civic Centre to march through the streets of the city in a colourful and celebratory Pride Parade. The parade arrived at Leazes Park for the Pink Picnic at 1pm, where a crowd of 12000 gathered for an afternoon of free music entertainment. The picnic began with a speech by renowned gay rights