Pride London responds to cancellation rumours
Organisers of WorldPride 2012 Pride London have rebutted ‘misrepresented rumours’ that the 7 July event is in danger of cancellation and responded to ‘media criticism’ of the event’s organisation.
A statement was issued this afternoon in response to reports that disputes between contractors and the Pride organisers could threaten the event, which is due to take place in just over a week’s time.
Pride London said it did not owe £65,000 from last year’s event, contrary to reports, and said it was “extremely concerned as to the source of this information”.
A Pride London spokesman told PinkNews.co.uk the event was not in debt, but there was a dispute with a contractor over an amount of money for 2011’s event.
However, they confirmed the contractor was still involved with this year’s event, had already been paid and was not threatening to put it in jeopardy.
Organisers said in the official response today that the free event “never comes without its financial and logistical difficulties” and is managed entirely by volunteers.
The official response said community support was “more crucial than ever before”.
“From members of the public putting change into our collection buckets throughout the festival and the big day itself, to supporters, donors and community organisations, businesses and corporates lending their financial support, to the people and businesses that give up their time and provide in-kind products and services – we urge that you continue doing so and come out in force to help us do our good work.
“This is not to pay for the “party” – but to create a important and visual platform for the LGBT people of London and the UK.”
It is, the statement continued, “logistically impossible for us to run an event like Madrid’s”, and currently “financially impossible for us to run one like Sydney’s”. Pride London’s WorldPride celebration is an event “put on by the community, for the community”, organisers said, and appealed for greater community support.
It added that it believed it was necessary to “set an example to younger generations, who are getting more and more disenfranchised with the need for “Pride”, who believe that there isn’t anymore discrimination against LGBTs, who believe that our work is done. We musn’t let them forget the fight that the generations before us took on to give us the freedoms that we have today.”
Pride London added: “Make no mistake, at Pride London we are committed to delivering an event that will deliver impact and a message that will resonate across the world.”
