Gay MP speaks at Leeds Pride
Newly-elected Tory MP for Pudsey Stuart Andrew was one of the speakers at Leeds Pride on Sunday.
Mr Andrew told crowds at the city’s Millennium Square that the new coalition government was committed to tackling homophobic bullying and led the party’s gay group LGBTory in the parade.
Matthew Sephton, chairman of LGBTory, the Conservative LGBT group, said that Mr Andrew’s presence at the festival was a “good sign”.
He said: “It was a brilliant day and it was great to have Stuart join us in the parade. The Conservatives now have the biggest number of openly-LGBT MPs in the House of Commons and to have them actively supporting pride events like the one in Leeds this weekend is a very good sign indeed. We are seeing action and not just words already and I hope this continues to happen.”
He added: “Stuart Andrew not only spoke on the stage, marched with us in the parade, but socialised with the LGBTory gang well into the evening and everyone had a fun time, while also highlighting the important messages that Pride events continue to have for the LGBT community across our country and throughout the world.”
Another speaker at the event was 21-year-old Dane Holdsworth, who was knocked unconscious in a homophobic attack less than 48 hours before Pride began.
Mr Holdsworth, a gay barman, said he was punched, kicked, bitten and strangled by two men as he walked home from work early on Saturday morning.
