Equity is urging performers waiting for payment from August’s Manchester Pride event to get in touch with the union for support and advice. Equity has written to Manchester Pride following several drag artists and performers raising concerns that they still haven’t been paid, with some reporting unprocessed payments as far back as June 2025.
We expect an event which celebrates equality to be equally respectful of workers' rights.
Equity North West official, Karen Lockney.
“Equity has received several queries from performers involved with working at Manchester Pride 2025 who are experiencing payment delays and have concerns that they will be left out of pocket after working the event in August”, explained Karen Lockney, Equity North West official. “We encourage other performers to contact us directly so that we can offer advice and support.”
Join a Zoom meeting on Tuesday 21 October at 3pm to discuss your situation, and/or contact Equity on NorthWestEngland@equity.org.uk
Karen described 60-day payment terms in performers’ contracts as “disappointing” and “unnecessarily long”. The industry standard is a maximum of 30 days, making Manchester Pride an outlier.
Karen explained why this is such a problem, saying: “Performers are self-employed workers who often have significant upfront costs in order to deliver extraordinary performances and experiences. Having to wait so long for payment puts an unnecessary financial burden on precarious workers. We expect an event which celebrates equality to be equally respectful of workers' rights, and we urge Manchester Pride to respond to Equity urgently so that the information vacuum is addressed.”
Drag artist Cadbury Parfait, a Manchester-based member of Equity’s Drag Network, called the non-payment issue “disheartening”, saying: "it’s disheartening that a pride organisation who regularly talks of championing queer voices would actively withhold payment from queer grassroots performers. I imagine the likes of Nelly Furtado or Leigh Anne received their payment upfront, and yet local performers who continue to keep the scene running throughout the year go without payment."
The 60-day payment period for most performers’ contracts expires at the end of October, meaning if money is not paid by then Manchester Pride would be in breach of agreed payment periods and legal claims could start to come in. Worryingly, Equity has heard of outstanding payments dating back to earlier in the summer.
Karen said: “Equity has an active Drag Network of performers, and we are concerned to hear from members about a bigger backlog with some upfront payments not being processed from as far back as June. While we wait for Manchester Pride to respond to our enquiries, Equity will support members to bring claims, should payments not be forthcoming.”
Equity is urging Manchester Pride to respond promptly to help find a resolution for everyone who is still out of pocket. Equity would also welcome further dialogue with Manchester Pride to avoid situations like this in future; to issue contracts which are in line with industry standard and good practice; and to help ensure people who work on this important event do not experience this level of uncertainty.
Find out more or join the Equity Drag Network.
Sign up for our open meeting at 3pm on Tuesday 21 October to discuss non-payment issues. Open to both members and non-members.
Sign up for the Zoom open meeting
