Anger as veterans’ parade cancelled while gay pride march goes ahead in United Kingdom

Posted on August 22, 2008
Filed Under Gay News Blog

About 3,000 former and current servicemen and women who served in wars ranging from World War Two to Afghanistan proudly marched through Doncaster town centre last August on the town’s inaugural Veterans’ Day.

But this year the local Royal British Legion branch claims it has been shunned by the council, and told the event could not be staged because of a “lack of amenities.”

Yet Doncaster staged its first gay pride parade last Sunday, and a few weeks before hosted a civic parade in which dignitaries, community workers and the public took part.

Ken Wood, 46, a Coldstream Guards gunner who served in the Gulf War and is the district secretary of the Royal British Legion said: “All the Doncaster branches of the Legion are disgusted that there will not be a Veterans’ Day parade.

“The council do not seem to care about the achievements of servicemen and women.

“I am not homophobic but the council supported both Doncaster Pride and the Mayor’s civic parade.”

Anger as veterans’ parade cancelled while gay pride march goes ahead
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom