London: TUC agrees new principles for capital’s gay pride festival

LGBT activists and trade unionists have agreed that a new organisation and committee should run next year’s main gay pride festival in London.

At a meeting held at the headquarters of the TUC, members called for “a clear set of principles” to underpin future Pride celebrations, following the controversy of July’s World Pride.

The new principles state that the parade must be the most important part of the event and that greater attention should be given to make it more accessible for people with disabilities.

Chair of the TUC LGBT Committee Maria Exall said: “It is important that we learn the lessons from World Pride as we look forward to London Pride 2013. The TUC is delighted that we have been able to help LGBTQ communities make clear the kind of Pride they want in 2013.”

Last week, the London Assembly launched an investigation into the financial failures of World Pride 2012.

On the day of World Pride, floats and other motorised vehicles were banned from taking part in the central London parade and several World Pride parties in Soho were axed.

The event had to be heavily scaled back after the organisers, Pride London, were forced to admit to a cash crisis just days before it was due to take place.

Dr Patrick Williams, the chair of Pride London, resigned as a result of the fiasco.

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• Dec 09 2023

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