WHEN Pride organisers unveiled plans to stage a festival in a Welsh village for the first time in its history they surely would have visualised memorable celebrations uniting the entire community together.

But those dreams now appear to be in tatters after attempts to enforce a dress-code to ban bondage and fetish attire prompted a furious backlash from their LGBTQ+ audience and led to the area's MP suggesting the move was "unwelcoming".

Rhondda Pride promoters asked attendees to the free event in Treorchy not to wear "sexualised" costumes to ensure the festival would provide a "safe space" for teenagers.

Organisers stated they wished to hold "a fun inclusive event without politics, religion and over sexualisation of the community".

But the move prompted a fierce backlash from the LGBTQ+ community who complained the dress-code ruling went against the "history and tradition" of Pride itself.

The free event at the Treorchy Market site was due to take place on Saturday, September 14 but has now been thrown into doubt after becoming engulfed by the controversy.