Canal Street Online Manchester

Pride Manchester

Pride Manchester

Manchester group demands answers from Pride
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Bosses at Manchester Pride were startled when a well-known drag queen marched into their offices last Friday brandishing a large brown envelope.

Ignoring an entry system and a sign that told visitors to 'knock and wait', legendary gay village performer Wynnie LaFreak walked straight in and handed the letter to Festival Director Jackie Crozier.

The four-page letter is the result of weeks of discussion by members of a Facebook group called Facts about Manchester Pride and it contains 16 key questions for those who control the annual August event.

"I want to see more community consultation and uncensored online interaction as well as transparency and accountability from the organisers," said Wynnie, echoing demands from the group.

The letter also calls for an increase in the amount raised for charity and a greater contribution from businesses across the city.

Many members are concerned by the lack of concessions and feel that the fences and high cost of taking part exclude people. Last year a ticket for Manchester Pride's Big Weekend cost as much as £22.50 plus booking fee.

While in recent years the period for buying a cheaper 'early bird' ticket has been greatly reduced (in 2005 early bird tickets were available until 22 August, but in 2010 they were available only until 1 July).

Some of the campaigners would like to see a return to a free-to-enter event that is more community-based.

Geoff Stafford who was at Pride HQ filming the delivery and who started the Facebook group said:

"You only need to look at the annual amount that's raised for good causes to see there's something seriously wrong here. Despite the way this event has mushroomed into a giant tourist attraction over the last decade, the total for charity is the one figure that never seems to increase."

Last year Manchester Pride raised £115,000. While back in 2003, charities received £127,690 and in 1996 The Pink Paper (August 30, 1996 issue) reported that the final figure from Mardi Gras that year was expected to be £127,000.

"And that's ignoring the effects of inflation," Geoff added.

In 2008, Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, told the Manchester Evening News that Manchester Pride was worth £17.5m to the city in economic terms and was "important to the brand of Manchester."

Geoff points out that back in 1990 the August Bank Holiday event was started by several of the gay business people as a charity fundraiser and that this group isn't a "wholesale attack on business".

"But it's unfair that some businesses in the gay village give or raise a lot while others in the area, or across the city as a whole, contribute nothing but still benefit enormously. Then it's all compounded by the fact that there's no transparency about who gives and charges what. This information should be out there for everyone to see and discuss."

Recently it emerged that £4,000 from the Pride charity fund had been given to the Village Business Association so it could put up decorative arches at either end of Canal Street in the gay village.

Which is "a complete perversion of the original aims of this fundraising event," in Geoff's view. "It began to raise money for HIV and AIDS causes..."

Members of Facts about Manchester Pride have had to resort to Freedom of Information requests to find out how much Pride is charged by Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council. The information received shows that GMP charged Pride £20,000 for policing in 2004, but that this had jumped to £52,500 in 2010.

Another revelation was that, in four out of the last six years, the City Council had clawed back more in charges than it gave in sponsorship and that was before any charges for street cleaning were added (a cost of between £6,000 and £9,000 each year). In 2010 sponsorship from Manchester City Council was £32,500, while charges were £33,300 plus cleansing costs.

In the last few weeks Manchester City Council has announced that it will scrap sponsorship to Pride as part of its cuts package.

Geoff said: "I have a huge amount of respect for Wynnie who has chosen to speak out and support this group, despite Manchester Pride and the gay village being an important part of her schedule. I hope other people will have the courage to do the same. With the cuts and difficult economic years ahead I definitely think this is the time to do that."

With a video of the letter delivery now available online, Wynnie LaFreak cackled: "At least they can't say they didn't receive it." A copy has been sent to Tony Lloyd the MP for Manchester Central.

Drag queens like to have the last word and Wynnie is no exception:

"It's time to give the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people of Greater Manchester OUR Pride back. This is primarily an event to raise funds for true good causes and not to line the pockets of businesses."

A spokesperson for Manchester Pride said:

"On Friday, two people walked into our office filming staff and volunteers' reactions as they handed us a letter, leaving everyone shocked and embarrassed.  It's a shame that a small group of people who have concerns about Manchester Pride chose to take such upsetting action.

"Despite this, we will reply fully to Mr Stafford having digested his four pages of allegations.

"Ultimately, staging Pride needs investment and support to keep raising thousands for charities year on year despite the economic climate having hit donations. Pride may not be to everyone's taste but it's organised by a diverse team of community staff, volunteers and trustees who always act with integrity."

Published: 14-Apr-2011: (526)

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