Three acts pull out of Pride in row over sponsorship links

THREE artists have pulled out of Manchester Pride in response to the event's main sponsor - with protests also planned to take place during the weekend of the festival.

- ADAM MAIDMENT

Manchester Pride 2024 will return over the August Bank Holiday weekend (August 23-26) and will once again see a variety of stages take over the Gay Village, alongside the annual parade through the city.

As with the last two years, one of the festival's main sponsors this year will be travel site booking.​com, which some artists have suggested profits from the ongoing conflict in Palestine. Research by knowledge and research organisation SOMO found that between March 2021 and May 15, 2023, the accommodation platform had 51 listings on its website located within Occupied Palestinian Territory.

As a result of the sponsorship, The Bollywitch and Felix Mufti, who were both due to perform during Friday's Trans Filth and Joy section, have withdrawn their scheduled appearances at the Pride event. Dan Chan, who had been set to perform during the Queer Asian Takeover on Saturday, has also pulled out.