Pride London denies links with gay lifestyle expo

By Yepoka Yeebo • July 24, 2007 - 13:21

Howard-Lloyd said that Eton Events had finally submitted a proposal to the board of Pride London last Friday, which was rejected.

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PinkNews.co.uk exclusive

The organisers of Pride London today denied giving a company permission to use its name and logo to promote a gay lifestyle exhibition slated for Pride season next year.

Andrew Clark, a director at Eton Events, who used the Pride London logo on its website and publicity material, claimed that Jason Pollock, chief executive of Pride London, had approved the partnership.

"Then we received instructions that our using the logo was a bit premature, and we had to backtrack a little, but the event goes on regardless," he told PinkNews.co.uk

"We had an agreement with the chief executive. How does a board overrule the chief executive?"

Colm Howard-Lloyd, spokesman for Pride London, said that the chief executive had to report to the board, and did not have the authority to make such agreements.

"We were puzzled that it was taken seriously at the time," he told PinkNews.co.uk

"We would find it difficult to team up with an entirely commercial venture, we would have to be very sure that it was in the interests of our charity and the community," said Howard-Lloyd.

Eastbourne-based Eton Events Ltd, who run exhibitions and conferences, including the 'Airport Show' and the 'Prime over 50's lifestyle exhibition', said that it had hoped to donate part of the revenue from the exhibition.

"Pride London clearly don't want to be the main beneficiaries, but we already have several other organisations interested," said Clark.

Howard-Lloyd said that Eton Events had finally submitted a proposal to the board of Pride London last Friday, which was rejected:

"Their company haven't done anything of this sort before.

"[Our support] is unlikely given the history of such exhibitions. I believe one is yet to turn a profit."

It also emerged today that the booking for the Earls Court venue has not been finalised.

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