Plymouth GAY PRIDE:- From the Plymouth Hearld

PLMOUTH GAY PRIDE;- Brakes 'OUT' of the closet Guildhall




Plymouth Gay PRIDE:- From The Hearald.

A new gay, lesbian and transgender group in Plymouth is hoping to establish an annual Gay Pride parade in the city.

Out Plymouth has been formed for those who feel 'disenchanted' with other LGBT organisations in the city - and members want to hold a parade and picnic on The Hoe in the future.

The parade will assemble at the Guildhall at 2.30pm on Saturday, June 7 and leave for The Hoe at 3pm. The picnic will then take place between 3.30pm and 6.30pm.


Plymouth hosted its first Gay Pride festival at the start of June last year. The event was complete with rainbow flags, belly dancers, a boy band and hundreds of visitors.

Out Plymouth believes the city needs a parade and picnic.

Sharin Lyn, the spokesman for the new group, said: "In other cities, Pride is a calendar event and an opportunity to parade and celebrate our alternative lifestyles in the open and with pride.

"In London it is a major event on a par with the carnival at Notting Hill, and we expect visitors from many parts of the country who want to see an annual event and parade in Plymouth."

Comments:-

"Out Plymouth is not a splinter group, It is totally separate from and has no connections to any other LGBT groups in the city. It was formed by Out and Proud LGBT people who were and are dissatisfied with the status quo of the LGBT groups in the city who claim council grants and purport to represent LGBT issues .

It appears that Plymouth Pride Events and Plymouth Pride Forum are incestuous LGBT groups governed and run by the same few individuals . The spokesperson for "Plymouth Pride Events" who organised the Guildhall event in the city last summer , which was well attended , made the statement that Plymouth "wasnt ready for a parade" .

This is contrary to the wishes desires and aspirations of a great many LGBT people who have expressed the opinion that Plymouth is ready , and the real anger and frustration of LGBT people in Plymouth who feel poorly served by these few individuals who control the LGBT agenda and receive council funding to represent LGBT issues .

Out Plymouth is organising an alternative Pride this year which will include a parade and picnic on the Hoe , it is expected to be a small event and any who feel so inclined are welcome to join with us , there is room in this city for alternative groups and Gay Pride is not the the property of Plymouth Pride Events , Gay Pride is about individuals who have choices.

Gay Pride can be whatever we want it to be "Variety is the Spice of Life" there is room for alternatives we re not sheep to be led we are human beings with our own creative abilities and input, We have every right to arrange alternative attactions and events if we so choose .

Those who have and feel the need for a parade and wish to join the picnic on the Hoe are very welcome to do so .

The Alternative Gay Pride Event is unorganised , receives no funding or grants and has no money , it will be small and merely a congregation of like minded people , with the same thoughts, dreams, desires and aspirations in mind , to celebrate their LGBT identities together with Pride adding variety diversity and choices to the events in Plymouth on Saturday the 7th June 2008".

Sharin Lyn, Plymouth
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"We need this event in Plymouth so that as gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered people from all walks of life we can come together to celebrate our identities freely and openly other cities in the Uk celebrate Gay Pride openly.

It could become a major tourist event attracting many thousands of L|GBT people to the city for the event putting Plymouth on the map and bringing milions of pink pounds into the city in years to come . The City should get behind this one , Brighton does very well out of its Gay Pride Festival and Plymouth needs to wake up".

David Wainwright , Plymouth
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"Cornwall held its own very successful 1st (and last?) LGBT Gay PRIDE Beach Day Picnic at Hayle last August bank Holiday. I was a youth member of the steering group.

Unfortunately, due to HOMOPHOBIC attitudes & practises of Cornwall Police, the Cornwall PRIDE steering group, made up of gay men, gay women & gay youth, disbanded shortly after. This was due to genuine FEAR of yet further Cornwall police victimisation of gay persons"

Good Luck Plymouth...and don't let the "Intercom Trust" or Police drag you down!".

Peter Midwood, Cornwall
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"Now that I know that this is a splinter group which is clearly trying to cause trouble, take people away from the 'official' Pride event being held at the Guildhall on the 7th June. I for one will be staying at the Guildhall on the 7th and would encourage all others to do the same".

Steve Chambers, Plymouth
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"Of course there will be some 'wee timerous closet mice' who will wish to remain behind a police cordon inside the village..sorry, Guild hall. Was that to keep us 'safely' police contained within so we don't upset those who would rather know we do not exist?

(as a victim of Devon & Cornwall police homophobia, that put me off the Guildhall last year, the massive police presence inside & out, we were in and out in seconds)

I thought GAY PRIDE 'WAS' about LGBT social visibility & sense of GAY community presence, not cowering inside a building, appologising for being GAY! ...and Who made "Intercom Trust"/PlymouthPrideEvents, God to dictate over gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender & STR8 alliance people's choices as to what they attend?

I really do believe the 'Intercom Trust' has lost touch with many grass roots gay people who will NOT be conformed or pressed into the STR8 Borg Hive Collective".

PinkPasty, Cornwall