Comments on: Queer activists invade the Manchester Pride 2008 balloon launch

By: Robert Anthony

Robert Anthony — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:09:17 +0000

Pride in Brighton & Hove promotes equality and diversity, and advances education to eliminate discrimination against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) community. AND ITS FREE!

If Brighton can do it then so can Manchester! There are no excuses Brighton Pride makes more money than it costs and cash goes to the smaller oragnisations.

The officials of Manchester including Andrew Stokes, the Chair of Manchester Pride and Chief Executive of Marketing Manchester are not doing a good job.

For Brighton people reading this through facebook links - be aware of the exploitation of young people in Manchester.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:13:38 +0000

PS, I dont think that by disrupting the offical events will get you much support. As you said “Pride” is for the mainstream Gay, you can not please and provide for 100% of the LGBT population. I do not use the words LGBT comunity as there is no such thing, everyone has different needs and wants.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:58:40 +0000

We live in a very different world today and to some the word “Pride” is not a political statement. As I said before, business and making profit is not a bad thing, they provide work for many. I am old enough to remember when my boyfriend and I had to pretend to be friend, we even bought flats adjacent to put off the police, as we would have been imprisond for our relationship in the 50’s I think that it is great that Gay Men and Women can at last have a fun weekend. A s I said get on with alternatives and if you are successfull good on ya!

By: gary

gary — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:44:36 +0000

I was there too Steve, in 1990 and in 1991 I spent a week making a video to be sold to raise funds. If the event had remained true to its roots then no doubt I would be making videos for it now.

We did organise a non-profit free queer festival in Manchester last year called Get Bent! here is the programme of events:

http://www.get-bent-manchester.com/get-bent-programme-2007.shtml

Hopefully this will happen again in 2009 and perhaps you’d like to come along?

However, we don’t see why the word ‘Pride’ should be depoliticised and taken over by people who are only interested in making money for themselves and who only target the most profitable section of the community, namely wealthy white gay men.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:14:31 +0000

As I have commented on another post, if you dont like what is provided, do as I do and do your own fund raising weekend event. It is not compulsory to go to the village, but for those who do, I hope they have a great time, its not for me, but so what? Instead of putting so much effort into complaining and objecting, get out and provide for yourself and your frinds what you do want. That is how the first fundraising event happened, I know I was there and involved.

By: tankgirl

tankgirl — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:01:31 +0000

is it not possible to fine the Mayor for littering??
Afterall where are these balloons going to end up?
Only recently there was ans environmentalist bemoaning this trend of balloon launches for polluting the environment and putting wildlife in danger !!

By: LovelyGaybear

LovelyGaybear — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:26:16 +0000

This is fabulous and looks great. I bet they were in shock and so they should be, it’s outrageous that you have to “pay to be gay” if that’s what you want. It also struck me that there were hardly and young women representing the lesbian community (I won’t even go down the route and ask where all the other letters and/or label-free people were). Well done for documenting, though!