%20-%20crop.jpg?x42984 "LGBT rainbow flag")
Pic: LGBT freedom flag
Greens are backing Brighton and Hove Pride 2013 theme this year under the slogan ‘gay icons’ with leading elected representatives and activists supporting the Pride Parade and festival organisers and the thousands of lesbian, gay, bi and trans residents and visitors.
Out gay Green Councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty, said, “This year’s Pride theme is ‘Gay icons’.
“We are delighted to support the city’s Pride festival team who are the real icons of LGBT activism.
“Please thank these guys for their work year after year to make Brighton and Hove Pride what it is today.
“Leading Green activists will be backing the parade and will be on hand in the festival enclosure in Preston Park.
“We will have an information stand in the park to listen and get feedback on people’s concerns as well as hopefully having a good time too!
“We will be supporting the parade financially and marching through the streets of Brighton to get the message out loud and clear campaigning is what makes the difference for equality; despite the fact that we now have equal marriage and many consider that we have equality, 98 hate crime incidents against LGBT people are reported to UK police forces every week.[1] LGBT Equality will always need defending.”
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, said, “Brighton and Hove Pride is always a fantastic occasion and an opportunity to reflect on far we’ve come.
“One of the best things about my job is representing one of the most politically active LGBT communities in the world.
“This year in particular we have a lot to be proud of – after decades of struggle, the right to same sex marriage is now enshrined in law.
“That was a huge step forward, and everyone who campaigned to make it happen should take the opportunity to celebrate.
“There are many struggles still ahead of us – on pension rights for example – but Brighton and Hove Pride is first and foremost a celebration, and I hope everyone has a great day out.”
Green Euro MP Keith Taylor said, “It’s fantastic that for over two decades the organisers of Brighton & Hove Pride have worked so hard to put on this event which has gained an international reputation.
“I’m proud to be taking part in Saturday’s celebrations and I hope they’ll show that Brighton & Hove continues to be a place where we can enjoy openly celebrating the diversity of our community.
“As much as Saturday is a chance to celebrate and party, it is also a chance to highlight that around the world many people still face persecution because of their sexuality.
“I will be highlighting the work the European Parliament does to raise these issues and I hope that Pride will send a strong message of support to LGBT people worldwide.”
For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.
Caroline’s welcome statement for Brighton and Hove Pride 2013:
[1] http://www.galop.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/The-Hate-Crime-Report-2013.pdf