Community Groups And Unions Call For Free, Community Led Pride
This is the TUC press release of a recent meeting of the future of pride which was attended by several union and community group representatives including the RMT's LGBT Officer
In the aftermath of the problems that afflicted London's World Pride earlier this month, community groups and LGBT trade unionists have confirmed their support for a national Pride to be held in central London, an event that is free and accessible to all, and a celebration as well as a demand for equality.
Ninety representatives of London LGBT community groups and LGBT union representatives met at the TUC's central London headquarters last night (Monday) to debate the future of Pride London after the last minute and drastic restrictions imposed on the World Pride event.
The meeting agreed a set of principles that should apply to future Prides:
- it should be free to all participants
- it must be fully inclusive of all sections of the LGBT community
- it should be a celebration, but retain its political cutting edge and campaign for LGBT equality and liberation nationally and internationally
- it must be led by the LGBT communities themselves, not have its shape or content determined by commercial sponsors or public bodies.
A smaller meeting open to a representative of every LGBT community group and union that wishes to participate will take place in early September to allow more discussion on the principles, which will then be fed into the AGM of Pride London.
TUC LGBT officer Peter Purton said: "There was anger at the way Pride had been treated, and after debate it was clear that although differences remain, we have much common ground about the way forward.
"The TUC is delighted to have been able to facilitate this meeting and to help develop a way forward for future Prides."
