Warwickshire Bears to celebrate Pride as part of Edgbaston double-header

Warwickshire Bears have announced that their home double-header will celebrate and support Pride this year.

The highly anticipated event will take place at Edgbaston Stadium on Friday 26 June, featuring the Bears v Pears derby.

The fixture, taking place during Pride Month highlights the Bears’ support for the LGBTQ+ community and its values of inclusion, equality and acceptance.

The blockbuster double-header at Edgbaston will showcase that cricket is a sport for all.

The double matchday coincides with the national Rainbow Laces movement, with players set to lace up their boots in rainbow colours for the women’s fixture against Surrey and the men’s fixture against Worcestershire.

Rainbow flags will be flying high outside The People’s Home of Cricket for both fixtures, with Pride branding prominent on all graphics and on the big screen during matchday. 

Birmingham Unicorns Cricket Club was established in 2020 as a proudly LGBTQ+ inclusive cricket club in the city, with several members of the Club set to be in attendance on the day.

Lachlan Smith, one of the founding members of Birmingham Unicorns, said: "As someone who has had a lifelong passion for cricket, having a club like Warwickshire commit to providing a welcoming space for all in the LGBTQ+ community has been incredibly important.

"This match is an important part of Pride month and making sure cricket really is a sport for everyone."

Alongside supporting Pride, there are several activities taking place on the day, with Digbeth Dining Club, a vibrant weekly street food event showcasing independent food vendors, announced last month.

There will also be a Pravha Fan Zone which will host the Pravha Band seen at Aintree and Cheltenham Races.