The forces of power and big money won't hesitate to take away our rights or help whip up hatred against us again next time it suits their interests. The prejudice that politicians whip up, whether it’s against single mums, Travellers or immigrants is a way of distracting attention from the greed, incompetence and megalomania of those same politicians, -and it can soon be turned back on us if it becomes useful again. What about organising a militant march to her house and let her know what we really think of Iris Robinson and others? The DUP in particular is famous for trampling on the rights of LGBT, not to mention the recent disgusting comments by Iris Robinson and inciting violence which is only the tip of the iceberg. Some of our 'community leaders' seem to think that cosying up with bigots from the DUP or politicians in general is the best way of securing our future. We're celebrating Queer Pride in Belfast 2008, We've won a lot of battles and these days it seems we're feeling smug and respectable enough to ally ourselves with the forces of bigotry and intolerance, thinking it will strengthen our grip on our own rights. The current wave of Irish LGBT Liberation started with feminists trade unionists and peace activists marching with us through Dublin, 1983 in outrage at the killing of a gay man cruising Phoenix Park. In Ireland, we won legal protection via equality legislation, in combined struggle with other social struggles, and that is where our true strength still lies in the streets. The international wave of Lesbian & Gay Liberation which spread out from Stonewall was closely based on the Black Civil Rights movement and couldn't have happened without the work the women's movement had already done in challenging fixed roles for women and for men. Almost 10,000 women and men attended the march. The following year, in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, the Gay Liberation Front organized a march from Greenwich Village to Central Park. In the past, it has had patronage from the likes of George Michael, Nicola Adams and Stephen Fry.So what are exactly are we proud of? Is it just that we are attracted to a particular gender or genders? Or, are we proud of our courageous history of struggles as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered/ LGBT/ Queer people for our rights, and against bigotry, oppression and hatred?The original Pride marches were held to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York which began on June 28, 1969, and which were led mainly by Black and Puerto Rican butch dykes and drag queens sick of being beaten up and arrested by the police. Pride in London patrons include Sir Elton John, David Furnish and Sir Ian McKellen. Some 1,000 volunteers are also involved on the day of the parade.
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The Pride in London board now consists of 10 people. It was awarded a contract to organise Pride in London by the Greater London Authority, and organised its first Pride in London festival in 2013. READ MORE: Ellen Page and wife post tasteful topless photo to celebrate Pride month Present day festival organisers London LGBT+ Community Pride, a registered community interest company, was formed in late 2012. Its last event was ‘WorldPride’ in 2012, an event to promote LGBT Pride on an international level.
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‘Pride London’ was formed in 2004 to organise the annual event, in addition to several others including the Big Gay Out music festival in Finsbury Park in 2004, and the 2006 ‘Drag Idol’ in Leicester Square. Another commercial organisation, London Mardi Gras, took over in 1999, but was run into debt when it failed to pay a bill for the use of Hyde Park in 2003.