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Glasgow Pride march chief hits out at city's lukewarm support Glasgow Pride march chief hits out at city's lukewarm support
(2 months later)
The organiser of Glasgow's annual gay pride parade, the largest and most successful event of its kind in Scotland, has lashed out at the city's council alleging a lack of support for the event.The organiser of Glasgow's annual gay pride parade, the largest and most successful event of its kind in Scotland, has lashed out at the city's council alleging a lack of support for the event.
In an angry blog post, Pride Glasgow's chief executive Alastair Smith asked the council not to fly the rainbow flag on the day of the event, which will incorporate a street procession, fairground rides and performances by musicians including M People's Heather Small.In an angry blog post, Pride Glasgow's chief executive Alastair Smith asked the council not to fly the rainbow flag on the day of the event, which will incorporate a street procession, fairground rides and performances by musicians including M People's Heather Small.
Effectively, Smith says, the council has lost the right to do so. He wrote:Effectively, Smith says, the council has lost the right to do so. He wrote:
Glasgow City council consistently and continuously offers the bare minimum to the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] population of this great city.Glasgow City council consistently and continuously offers the bare minimum to the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] population of this great city.
The barriers and obstacles we have faced from the council have led us to come to the conclusion the council is not PROUD of Pride [sic] and it is not PROUD of its LGBT citizens and the contribution they make to city.The barriers and obstacles we have faced from the council have led us to come to the conclusion the council is not PROUD of Pride [sic] and it is not PROUD of its LGBT citizens and the contribution they make to city.
Pride generates revenue for the city, Pride Glasgow is the biggest LGBT event in Scotland, it should be recognised as an asset to the city, not a burden to be placated with the bare minimum.Pride generates revenue for the city, Pride Glasgow is the biggest LGBT event in Scotland, it should be recognised as an asset to the city, not a burden to be placated with the bare minimum.
Smith said he had become frustrated while trying to secure a charity discount on fees incurred by the event, taking place on Saturday August 10, on Glasgow Green. He said:Smith said he had become frustrated while trying to secure a charity discount on fees incurred by the event, taking place on Saturday August 10, on Glasgow Green. He said:
The council reduces fees by up to 50% for things like venue hire for non-profit events.The council reduces fees by up to 50% for things like venue hire for non-profit events.
They've done it for events like the Merchant City festival, and we've been asking them for some time whether they'd show the same kind of support for Pride Glasgow, but at every turn it's been like running into a brick wall.They've done it for events like the Merchant City festival, and we've been asking them for some time whether they'd show the same kind of support for Pride Glasgow, but at every turn it's been like running into a brick wall.
Our enquiries were going unanswered. They just didn't seem to want to be involved.Our enquiries were going unanswered. They just didn't seem to want to be involved.
The council has agreed to charge the reduced rate following Smith's blog post, but the event organiser, who works for a gay men's health charity, said that he remained dissatisfied with the support they'd shown.The council has agreed to charge the reduced rate following Smith's blog post, but the event organiser, who works for a gay men's health charity, said that he remained dissatisfied with the support they'd shown.
They've informed us two weeks before the event that we can have the discount. That's made it very difficult to make plans for the event and get bookings in place.They've informed us two weeks before the event that we can have the discount. That's made it very difficult to make plans for the event and get bookings in place.
We've been running the event since 2008 without financial support, and we always make it work somehow. But it costs tens of thousands of pounds to organise and that all comes from a couple of sponsors and individual donations. If we'd gotten a timely answer it would have made life a lot easier for our volunteers.We've been running the event since 2008 without financial support, and we always make it work somehow. But it costs tens of thousands of pounds to organise and that all comes from a couple of sponsors and individual donations. If we'd gotten a timely answer it would have made life a lot easier for our volunteers.
Smith added that he was disappointed that council leaders had not taken part in the event. Referring to former Labour leader Steven Purcell and current council leader Gordon Matheson, he said:Smith added that he was disappointed that council leaders had not taken part in the event. Referring to former Labour leader Steven Purcell and current council leader Gordon Matheson, he said:
Over the last eight years the council has been led by two openly gay politicians.Over the last eight years the council has been led by two openly gay politicians.
Not once have they been a part of the parade or spoken at the event. If you look at London, the Mayor leads the parade. That should be happening here as well.Not once have they been a part of the parade or spoken at the event. If you look at London, the Mayor leads the parade. That should be happening here as well.
Pride Glasgow is getting bigger every year. We're hoping to have up to 10,000 people at this year's festival. Having the leader of the council there would make a powerful statement.Pride Glasgow is getting bigger every year. We're hoping to have up to 10,000 people at this year's festival. Having the leader of the council there would make a powerful statement.
A council spokesman said the local authority had followed its established procedure in awarding discounts for the event:A council spokesman said the local authority had followed its established procedure in awarding discounts for the event:
The event organiser had asked for a discount. If he had allowed the request to be processed as normal he would have received these discounts and would have avoided any confusion.The event organiser had asked for a discount. If he had allowed the request to be processed as normal he would have received these discounts and would have avoided any confusion.
Alastair had told the council that he did not want us to fly the Pride flag on 10 August. To clarify, the council will be flying the Pride flag in support of Glasgow's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, and the Pride movement as a whole.Alastair had told the council that he did not want us to fly the Pride flag on 10 August. To clarify, the council will be flying the Pride flag in support of Glasgow's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, and the Pride movement as a whole.
He added that the council had funded Glasgay!, an annual festival of LGBT culture, since 1993.He added that the council had funded Glasgay!, an annual festival of LGBT culture, since 1993.
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