TUC attacks shambolic curtailment of London World Pride

date: 3 July 2012

embargo: 00.01hrs Wednesday 4 July 2012

The TUC has today (Wednesday) attacked the Mayor of London and Westminster City Council for their decision to cut back the World Pride festival in London this weekend.

With the city hosting World Pride for the first time ever this Saturday, unions and community groups have spent the last few months ensuring a massive demonstration of support for the cause of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) equality.

Having provided substantial sponsorship for Pride for many years, the TUC is disappointed at the drastic curtailment of the events planned for 7 July at such short notice, and the message it sends to LGBT communities around the world about the capital's commitment to equality.

The TUC believes that Pride should be led by the LGBT communities, and will be calling a meeting of community organisations, LGBT activists and unions after World Pride to discuss how to avoid a similar fiasco in future.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'In the year of World Pride, when we should be celebrating greater LGBT equality at home, and campaigning for more abroad, it's shameful that the main agencies responsible for enabling Pride to happen - the Mayor of London and Westminster City Council - have insisted on drastic reductions in the event, at a week's notice.

'London should be proud about celebrating its first ever World Pride. Instead, people will be asking why plans have been changed at the last minute and questioning the capital's commitment to LGBT equality.'

The TUC criticism comes ahead of its annual LGBT conference in London on Thursday. Several hundred lesbian and gay union activists will travel to central London for the two-day conference (5-6 July) to debate topical issues such as the impact of the cuts, transphobia in colleges, equal marriage, and discrimination and violence against the LGBT community internationally.

Speakers at the conference include Michael Cashman MEP, Chair of the TUC LGBT Committee Maria Exall, Equality and diversity campaigner Linda Bellos and Haneen Maikey, Director of Palestinian LGBT group al-Qaws.

There will also be an international panel of speakers on LGBT rights including Kemone Brown from South Africa and Kenita Placide from St Lucia.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The conference is from 11am on Thursday 5 July to 5.30pm on Friday 6 July at Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS. The agenda is available at www.tuc.org.uk/tucfiles/324/LGBT2012FinalAgenda.pdf

- For more information about the conference contact Peter Purton on 020 7467 1271 or email ppurton@tuc.org.uk

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

- Congress 2012 will be held at the Brighton Centre from Sunday 9 September to Wednesday 12 September. Free media passes can be obtained by visiting www.tuc.org.uk/mediacredentials and completing an online form. Applications must be in by noon on Wednesday 29 August. Any received later than that will be processed in Brighton and will cost £50. Please note that the Brighton Centre requires 60 days' notice for telephone line facilities. Details available on the link above.

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk