Carwyn Jones

The Leader of Welsh Labour Carwyn Jones AM (First Minister for Wales) and the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales have both given messages of support for Cardiff Mardi Gras.

Carwyn Jones AM, Leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said:
“Thanks to the hard work of volunteers, this year’s Cardiff Mardi Gras looks to be the biggest ever as people from across Wales and beyond gather in a celebration of diversity. The Mardi Gras offers us an opportunity here in Wales to increase awareness and understanding of our LGBT community and to promote equality.
 
“I’m proud to belong to a Party that has so much to be proud of on LGBT rights, from banning homophobic discrimination in the workplace and in the provision of goods and services, to the right to adopt children and civil partnerships. The Labour Party will continue to deliver for LGBT people - as the Party of equality.
 
“All that remains is for me to wish you all a great Mardi Gras 2010!”

Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, said:
“Mardi Gras is an incredibly important demonstration of the fantastic diversity of Wales today.

"We have come a long way in just a few years. Working together, we achieved an equal age of consent, gay adoption and got rid of Section 28. We should be proud to now have gay men and lesbians serving openly in our Armed Forces. And we should be really proud that couples across Wales can form legal civil partnerships.

"There is so much more still to do before we have real equality. Changing laws is just the start. The bigger challenge is to change attitudes. That’s why Cardiff Mardi Gras has such a vital role to play in widening understanding of the LGBT community in Wales.

"Have a great time at this year’s festival and at the main event on September 4th.“