Belfast Pride is always a big week for the Titans as it gives us an opportunity to link in with the LGBT community and it’s various groups through the number of different events that take place over the course of the week. (For those who don’t know, Pride usually lasts a week with different events held by different groups finishing with a big parade on the first weekend of August). We attended different events from the opening party, to panel events, specialist group nights such as Men of the North and finally, attended the parade as a team.

The Titans always attract a lot of attention during the Pride Parade, dashing in and out of the random, sometimes bizarre but always interesting and eclectic mix of people that flock together to march to celebrate their pride in who they are, not only because we’re in rugby kit but because we make a point of lifting each other for line outs and draw in the spectators by throwing (sometimes dodgy) passes. The Emerald Warriors also joined us to show their support, also showing that gay identifying rugby clubs exist outside of Belfast.

After marching, running and jumping our way through the streets of Belfast we hit party in the square at Customs House Square were recruitment took place with a vengeance. A stall was set up, showcasing the Bingham Shield, information on the club, some other nice things for people to buy and the boys were set to work, talking to anyone and everyone about the club, who we were (for those unfortunates who didn’t know), what we do, how to get involved and most importantly, using those Titans charms to wangle some of the bigger lads into coming to training.

Towards the end of the day a few brave souls were asked to do something that seems to be a trend in sport these days – dance. It wasn’t quite strictly come dancing but a few of our boys rocked that stage with the band, dancing with reckless abandon and we would like to say flare but we don’t believe in lying. A few red faces later (we’d like to say it was the exertion of dancing like it was going out of fashion but the poor lads realised they had danced in front of hundreds of people with no shame, well until they stopped) and we headed for home to shower, eat and get ready for a nights partying with the explicit message – Happy Pride.