Norwich Pride 2010 speeches

Councillor Jennifer Chamberlin, Member of Norfolk County Council and the Chairman of the Council's Strategic Equality Group

Good morning everyone! It is with enormous Pride that I am here this morning representing Norfolk County Council to launch the second Norwich Pride. The word Pride is particularly important, because today is about celebrating how Proud we are of who we are. I know it's going to be a wonderful day, with an incredible array of activities for everyone to enjoy. I have already visited one event - the art exhibition at St Gregory's on Pottergate, which is showcasing the work of some very talented Norfolk artists.

There are some very important reasons why Pride is so significant for Norfolk. Norfolk County Council has recently completed a major consultation with 359 residents who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Whilst the consultation revealed some positive things, it also presented many shocking facts about the discrimination and harassment that many LGBT residents experience in the county. Particularly shocking for me, for example, was that the vast majority of LGBT residents said they had experienced transphobic or homophobic harassment during the past year! Not only that, but over 80% of LGBT residents said they regularly avoided showing affection with a same-sex partner in public, in Norfolk, because of fear of trans or homophobic abuse.

I would therefore like to give you my commitment as the Chairman of Norfolk County Council's Strategic Equality Group that we will work very hard to play our part in tackling transphobia and homophobia. I know this is also something that Norfolk Constabulary is also totally committed to tackling, and the Chief Constable, Phil Gormley is joining us later this morning to talk about that. My vision, as I know yours is too, is to live in a county where every day is a day everyone can be Proud - Proud of who we are, and who our families, friends and loved ones are. Today is all about putting that vision into practice … with Pride!

Before I officially declare Pride open, I would like to say a special thank you to the Pride collective. The Pride collective are a dedicated group of creative and enthusiastic volunteers from the LGBT community, who have given up their weekends, evenings, lunch hours and day jobs over the last year to organise today's event. On that note, I would like officially to declare Norwich Pride 2010 launched, and wish you all a wonderful, happy, fun, and Proud day! Thank you

Tom Dylan, Lord Mayor

Hello everyone. Usually when I come to an event wearing my robes and chains I can pretty much guarantee that I'll be the most exotically dressed person there.

That's not the case today and to be honest I feel a little under-dressed. It's great to see so many beautiful people here to enjoy Norwich Pride – which is quickly becoming known as one of our most welcoming and friendliest events.

The City Council, and the city as a whole supports the diversity that this event represents, and values the LGBT community for what it brings to the city.

We hope that this event, and others like it around the country are successful in shining a light into the many dark corners where LGBT people are still persecuted, and reminding people that there are still places where the battle against ignorance needs to be won.

Thank you all so very much – and enjoy the parade!

Phil Gormley, Chief Constable

I am absolutely delighted to be here for this, the second Pride of Norwich, which builds upon the outstanding success of the event last year. It is brilliant to see such a good turnout, and I am especially proud to see other members of Constabulary staff taking part in uniform.

I am sure that there are other non-uniformed colleagues here too. What has impressed me today, as a relative newcomer to the county, is the visible passion and pride in not only who you are, but also in where you are! Norfolk is a superb place to live, and Norwich is widely acclaimed as a tolerant, safe and inclusive city. I think this event really underlines that fact, as today local people have taken to the streets to show their support for the LGBT community.

Norfolk Constabulary is pleased to lend its support to this event, but this is only one facet of our overall engagement with the LGBT community. We work closely with partners and are absolutely committed to tackle all types of hate crime and intolerance, working closely with the LGBT community to build trust and confidence. I feel passionately that it is results not figures in terms of performance that are important. Of course our involvement is not only in investigation – we have actively supported LGBT History Month for the last 7 years, and for the last 2 years have worked with AVIVA Pride to put on a hugely successful talent competition which celebrates all that is good and talented within Norfolk's LBT communities. We have every intention of continuing to do so. In fact I'm really pleased to see that the winner of this year's show Angie Bannister will be performing shortly here on the main stage. I hear she's got an amazing voice.

This is proud day for you and Norwich, enjoy it! Have a great day folks, stay safe!

Stephen Lingwood, Unitarian Minister

My name is Stephen Lingwood, I am here this weekend at the invitation of the Octagon Unitarian Chapel.

I am proud to be a Minister in the Unitarian Church, I am proud to be a bisexual man, I am proud to be queer.
You know, people sometimes ask if we still need Pride festivals. After all, we have made so much progress in creating equality and freedom from discrimination in this country. And that's true.
But we still live in a society that is deeply heterosexist and homophobic, and biphobic and transphobic.
As gay, lesbian, bi and trans people we are still taught, in subtle and unsubtle ways, that our lives and our relationships are subnormal.
We are still taught, every day, that our lives and our relationships are less holy.
We are still taught, every day, to feel ashamed.

Well today we give a simple message: we are not ashamed. We are proud.

We have nothing to be ashamed about.
Our lives and relationships and bodies are no less holy than any body else's.
We are human beings, part of the beauty of diversity in this world, we are proud to be who we are.
So today be proud, be out.

I'd like to invite all you to a service of pride and celebration this evening at 6pm at the Octagon Unitarian Chapel. People of all faiths and none are welcome at this inclusive service. It would be great to see you there.

Have a happy Pride, stay proud, blessed be.

David Watkins, Founder, A Day in Hand

A Day In Hand encourages and supports same-sex couples who want to hold their partner's hand in public. Same-sex hand holding (Sshh) is a silent revolution, because no words need to be said to challenge stereotypes or discrimination. We advocate promoting love and equality through the simple act of holding hands.

A Day in Hand is a non-violent, individual centred, way to affirm yourself, and your same-sex love, publicly. It also provides a revolutionary way of changing cultural perceptions of same-sex love, a revolution that anybody, gay, straight, single, or committed, on any day, can be a part of. The real test of any society's true acceptance of homosexuality is whether or not lesbians, gay men and bisexual people can be themselves out in the open, everyday, with the people they love. Do you feel comfortable holding your partner's hand, anytime, anywhere? There is much work to be done before we are afforded this kind of equality of respect. The more out you are, the easier being 'out' is.

Talking about how much people hate us can only make us feel more hated. Let's start showing those haters who we love and who we are. So just do it! Hold hands, in daylight hours, in crowds, at picnics, in parks or at the theatre, and where you feel safe. Personally I like to hold hands with men in queues. People generally won't slag you off when they have to stand next to you for the next 10 minutes. I'm not saying ignore you're survival instincts, but don't be oppressed by them either.

If you want to live in a world where you can hold your parnter's hand in the street, then hold your partner's hand in the street. Equality is your responsibility. Be the change that you seek and Live Your Love.