10 Oct 2026
Proud St Albans – a volunteer-led community initiative to create “a place without prejudice” was officially launched at the Cathedral yesterday afternoon (Friday).
St Albans joins the established Proud Watford initiative and becoming the first new place to join the growing Proud Town network.
The launch took place in the heart of St Albans, beginning with the unveiling of the Proud Portraits exhibition on the railings of St Albans Cathedral. The exhibition, created by Proud Watford, celebrates the lives and stories of LGBTQIA+ people through photography and personal testimony – and its arrival in St Albans marks a symbolic moment of connection between the two Proud Towns.
Around 50 attendees joined the launch event, including civic dignitaries, representatives from community groups, local businesses, and supporters from across the city.
Speeches were given by the Proud St Albans committee, St Albans Mayor Cllr Matt Fisher and MP Daisy Cooper, each reflecting on the importance of inclusion, visibility and community collaboration.
Harry Kinsey from Debenhams Ottaway, one of the founders of Proud St Albans, said: “We have a wonderful city, a strong community and so many people who care deeply about making it an even better place to live, work and visit.
“But being Proud St Albans isn’t about pretending that everything is perfect. It’s about saying we want to keep moving forward.
“We want people to feel that they can be themselves here. That they belong here. That they can walk through our city centre, go to work, meet friends, raise a family, run a business or simply be themselves – without having to think twice about whether they are welcome.
“And we want that to mean everyone.
“The Proud Town Network gives us the opportunity to share that ambition with other places, while still making Proud St Albans completely our own. The network is deliberately designed so that each Proud Town remains autonomous, with its own priorities and its own voice.
“We want to say a huge thank you to Proud Watford for going first and leading the way, for giving us the inspiration, the framework and, importantly, the encouragement to say: we can do this in St Albans too.
“And perhaps most importantly, thank you for opening the door. We’re very pleased to be walking through it… So, from all of us at Proud St Albans, welcome to our launch -and welcome to the beginning of what we hope will be a really exciting journey. We are really proud that Proud St Albans is here.”
Following the unveiling, guests were invited to an informal reception at The Boot Inn, where conversations continued between local leaders, organisations and residents about the future of Proud St Albans and the wider Proud Town movement.
