A new club for gay women is taking to the streets of Dorchester as part of the county town's first ever pride parade.

The Pony Club, a social group for gay women, will be joining hundreds to celebrate diversity in the county at the Love Parade on August 30 from 1pm till late.

The event is based at Café Jagos in High West Street in the middle of town with jazz bands entertaining in the chill out garden and a cabaret stage in the main restaurant. The Pony Club is to join the first ever Pride march in Dorchester when it hopes to recruit new members.

Sarah Shirtcliffe, The Pony Club Artistic Director, said, "It's fantastic that the gay community now has its own parade in west Dorset. Many living in rural areas can easily feel isolated and the parade is a great show of strength and unity. The Pony Club hopes that gay women at the parade will come and join us for some of our amazing events, to meet new friends, find love or simply to promote their gay-friendly business to a wider market."

The Pony Club was set up during Bourne Free - Bournemouth's Pride - on July 11 this year by a group of friends bored with the south coast scene.

The Pony Club already has 27 members using its social networking site www.pony-club.ning.com and plenty of gay-friendly businesses listed on our site www.theponies.co.uk and is throwing its stable doors open to west Dorset's women. Its official domain http://www.theponies.co.uk went live on August 1, 2009 and is more than just a website - it is a way of life.

The Pony Club organises special events from live music, to beach parties, coastline walks, horse riding, fishing, surfing or dining out and it will also be a powerful networking tool for the large number of gay women in Dorset. The aim is also to help draw in the female pink pound to businesses in Dorset by providing a one-stop shop for visitors with listings for gay-friendly bars, clubs, hotels, restaurants, shops, social groups and professional services.

The Pony Club's inaugural event is at Branksome Dene Chine Community room, Pinewood Road, Poole, on Sept 13. Singer and DJ Blue Savannah is performing against the stunning panoramic sea views along Poole's blue flag beach. Tickets are £10, which includes one free drink, but numbers are limited.

For more details of the Love Parade event contact Chris on chrisk746@hotmail.com or 01305 266056. For info on The Pony Club call Lesley on 07772291162 and visit the website www.theponies.co.uk