Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has wished everyone attending this weekend’s Pride celebrations in Brighton a happy, safe and enjoyable weekend.
He said: “Pride is always a great occasion and a real celebration of our city’s fantastic diversity. I always look forward to attending and will be marching in the parade again this year. I wish everyone attending this year a safe and enjoyable Pride.”
Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, also sent a message of praise for the annual festival, which this year will include married same-sex couples for the first time.
Mike and his local conservative colleagues, including Cllr Graham Cox, the newly-selected prospective parliamentary candidate for Hove and Portslade, are committed supporters of Pride.
Mike pushed strongly for LGBT equality in Westminster and first raised the issue of marriage inequality with David Cameron back in 2011. He felt that it was right to make same-sex marriage a priority for the Government.
He said: “I think that it is absolutely incredible that this year we will, for the first time, have married LGBT couples taking part in Pride. The Government was absolutely right to make same-sex marriage a priority. I wish everyone the best for the day.”
Cllr Graham Cox, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Hove and Portslade, said: “I am delighted to be taking part again in the parade. As my first public event since being selected as the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Hove and Portslade, I look forward to walking with pride that Conservatives pushed ahead and achieved same-sex marriage equality.
Nancy Platts, the Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, said: “I’m proud to support Brighton Pride once again this year and am flying the rainbow flag from my office in support. It’s great to see so many other people, including countless small businesses, showing their colours too and making this a truly rainbow city. I can’t wait for the parade tomorrow and will be taking my place with Labour Party members who have travelled from all over the country to support LGBT equality.”
Purna Sen, The Labour prospective candidate for Brighton Pavilion, drew people’s attention to the fact that yesterday, August 1, the Ugandan Constitutional Court ruled unconstitutional the Anti-Homosexuality Act signed into law by President Museveni in February this year.
She said: “On the occasion of Brighton Pride (2 August 2014) it’s worth remembering three things: that any progress on rights has been won through political struggle, that the struggle is not yet over , so celebration and renewal of commitment must go hand in hand, and that all of us who want to see the realisation of rights must understand their interconnections.
“After all, Mandela was so right when he said that none of us is truly free unless we all are free.
“Happy Brighton Pride to all today – let’s party but let’s keep up the fight too!”
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