Latest news with #BelfastPrideFestival
ITV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Thousands turn out for Belfast Pride parade with theme No Going Back striking defiant note
Thousands of people both young and old filled the streets of Belfast for the city's annual Pride parade. Spectators lined the city's footpaths to cheer on the thousands who took part in the parade. Belfast Pride Festival is one of the biggest festivals in the city's calendar, with hundreds of events taking place. Organisers of Belfast Pride said it is the biggest cross-community parade in Belfast and is a protest and celebration of the lives of LGBT+ people. The theme for this year's event was No Going Back, as organisers said there must be 'no turning back from the advances made in visibility, legal protections and societal recognition'. Throughout the city, many people had rainbows painted on their faces, while others waved LGBT+ flags and held placards with equality messages written on them. A series of groups and floats, representing up to 250 charities and organisations, took off from Custom House Square at 1pm. It made its way north of the city before making its way down Donegall Place and past City Hall before finishing at Victoria Street. Friends, work colleagues and many young families, including pet dogs, were among those in the crowd. Belfast Pride organisers took the decision to ask political parties to not attend the parade in an official capacity, after Stormont backed a ban on puberty blockers. The parade started in 1991 and over the last 30 years has grown to be the largest single parade in Northern Ireland. Ahead of the parade taking place, First Minister Michelle O'Neill tweeted: 'Happy Belfast Pride to everyone celebrating today, I hope it's filled with joy and love for you all. 'Your courage over many years has helped transform our society for the better. 'As your First Minister, I'm committed to building a future where everyone in our LGBTQIA+ community is seen, valued, and treated equally. Be proud. Be you. Today and every day. 'Have a wonderful day.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Belfast Pride latest to ban political parties from parade
Belfast Pride have become the latest organisers to ban political parties who supported a ban on the sale or supply of puberty blockers to under-18s from taking part in its parade. In December, the four parties in the executive - Sinn Féin, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Alliance and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) - voted to introduce an indefinite permanent ban. Puberty blockers are drugs used to delay or prevent puberty happening and had sometimes been prescribed to children questioning their gender. Last month, organisers of Foyle Pride, Causeway Pride and Mid and East Antrim Pride told political parties not to attend their Pride events over the ban. Belfast Pride Festival is one of the biggest festivals in the city, with hundreds taking part in the parade which marches through the city centre. In a statement on Friday, Belfast Pride said following a community consultation, the organisation would not be accepting applications from those executive parties to take part in the parade. "Belfast Pride is deeply concerned about the impact this decision has had, and will have, on trans young people," it said. Organisers said what was universal in responses to its consultation was the "anger and frustration expressed at the decision to ban puberty blockers in Northern Ireland". "For at least a decade concerns about the failures in trans healthcare have been expressed to political panels at Belfast Pride and by our partners in the LGBTQIA+ sector," it added. "Despite this, no meaningful action to improve these services has been undertaken or plan developed - other than to remove one of the limited services available." Belfast Pride also said the failure to include LGBTQIA+ people in the Programme for Government was "extremely disappointing". "We are living in unprecedented times where our hard-won rights are once again under threat," the statement said. "We call on all political parties to take meaningful action to address the inequalities still experienced by our community." Sinn Féin's equality spokesperson, Carál Ní Chuilín, said the decision to exclude executive parties was "deeply disappointing" and a "backwards step". "Pride has always been an inclusive event welcoming people from all backgrounds to participate and celebrate LGBTQIA+ people," she said. "While we fully respect the right of the organisers to take this decision, we believe this is a missed opportunity to once again stand together to confront those whose agenda has been, and continues to be, to marginalise, undermine and divide supporters of LGBTQIA+ rights." Until the ban in Northern Ireland, puberty blockers were only available on NHS prescription for under-18s, for those young people who were accepted onto the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Gender Identity Service endocrine pathway prior to March 2020. It is understood children already on this medical pathway will continue to receive treatment. Hormone suppressors also remain available for patients receiving the drugs for other uses, such as early-onset puberty. The move to ban puberty blockers came after a report into children's gender services - the Cass Review - said there were "gaps in evidence" around the drugs. The review was led by leading paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass and prompted the last government to ban the use of puberty blockers for under-18s questioning their gender – a move which was then supported by Labour when they won the election. Political parties banned from some NI Pride events
