Pride Protest

"ROBBERS THIEVES AND VILLAINS" PROTEST HITS MANCHESTER PRIDE AND THE GAY VILLAGE

About 25 people marched through the gay village on Saturday afternoon, in the latest in a series of protests to hit the famous area.

Some wore robbers' masks as part of a thieves and villains theme. "You stole our HIV/AIDS fundraiser and safe gay village" stated one banner.

Organiser Adam, of the Better Rethink LGBTQ Manchester Facebook group, said the action was in part about the volatile atmosphere in the gay village. Dressed from head to foot in stripes as an "exploited human barcode" he said "there's a lot of discontent with Pride and the village in general. About how it's declining and the way in which the community isn't respected."

"They've stolen our respect, our dreams, our hopes and our Pride..."

As he was interviewed on camera, Craig said "I think the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, Pride, Manchester City Council and other assorted interested parties - they all pee in the same pot. And that's why it's come down to £34,000 [raised for good causes by Manchester Pride this year]. Because all the money goes on marketing Manchester as a fun city and place to party."

Until 2007 a group made up of the largest charities including the LGF sold tickets for Pride as "Operation Fundraiser" and in those days about one third of the ticket income reached good causes. If that formula had still been in place, last year's Manchester Pride charity figure would have been around £230,000 instead of £52,000. A sign of how the event has lost its way say campaigners, and an "almighty theft" according to one.

The protesters gathered in Sackville Park, marched down Richmond Street and Canal Street and finally made their way to the Manchester One tower on Portland Street. This is the Manchester Pride HQ and fast becoming a focal point for demonstrations. Leaflets were put through the door and village stalwart Julia Grant left a "symbollic" gift-wrapped Christmas present. "It has a bar of soap inside," she laughed. "Because they need to clean up their act." Two men were dressed as Santa Claus.

Manchester Pride has announced listening groups in January and opinions varied amongst the protesters. Some said it was too little too late, all on Pride's own terms, and they want to see the current Board of Trustees "booted out. "

"Safe gay village now. No more Excuses," was the message on another banner.

An HIV+ man was punched in the face by a woman at the Vigil at this year's Manchester Pride. He is understood to have been protesting about the service he had received from the George House Trust charity.

"The fact he was protesting at the Vigil has been controversial. But the issue of him being physically assaulted -- apparently while being held by the police -- has been kept very quiet to avoid corporate embarrassment," said Geoff. Co-founder of the Facebook group Facts About Manchester Pride, which supported Saturday's protest, he was there dressed as a "robber" in a ski mask.

In the early hours of 23 November two gay men, who are believed to have been wearing fetish gear, were badly beaten while waiting in the queue for a taxi on Richmond Street. One had teeth knocked out and the other needed a CAT scan because of blows to the head.

"The police, businesses, council and charities seem to be doing little more than manage the abuse, with rather lame yet costly initiatives such as the Village Angels," said Geoff. "I'm very worried about how this might end up if they continue to be complacent and allow profit from fast-food, alcohol and taxis to be put ahead of the village being a safe space.

"At the moment, protests like this one are good humoured. But we all know what happened at the Stonewall Inn in 1967 when the drag queens got sick of being abused."

The LGF's latest annual Village Census found that "overwhelmingly"
respondents wanted the village "to be an exclusively gay area" and to "go back to being predominantly gay."

Published: 12-Dec-2013: (2216)