Leicester keeps gay pride despite funding issues
Leicester Pride, the one day festival celebrating Leicester’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities has been confirmed for Saturday 24th June 2006, despite financial difficulties.
The festival, which attracts an estimated 10,000 visitors, will be scaled down due to a luck of sufficient funding.
Corin Desborough, Pride Director and Volunteer Coordinator for the Leicester Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre, said “Unless more local businesses and local people support these community events, Leicester’s reputation as a model for diversity and its claim to be ‘A City of Festivals’ will be completely discredited.”
She added, “These events attract thousands of people to our city and contribute hundreds of thousands of pounds to the local economy”
This year the theme is ‘One Step Beyond’ celebrating the gay rights journey as it reaches a major milestone in the shape of the new civil partnership legislation.
The free event is being touted as a huge achievement on the path to equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Celebrations will includes a colourful and lively parade, floats, costumes, dancers, marching bands, revellers, campaigning groups, unique performances, musical and colourful celebration.
The festival which remains free to the public will be a major cultural event for the city, hosting talent from Leicester, the county and East Midlands.
Many bars in the city centre in association with Pride will be hosting parties for festival goers.
Organisers are welcoming advertising, sponsorship, financial contributions and, where appropriate, the loan of equipment and expertise.
PinkNews.co.uk is currently in negotiations with a number of Pride organisations in regards to sponsoring future events.
