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Blackpool police to join Blackpool Pride parade

9:48pm Friday 16th May 2008

comment Comments (16)   Have your say »

By Chris Gee »

Members of Lancashire police will be joining an estimated 10,000 people for this year's Blackpool Pride Parade and Carnival.

Police officers and staff will be taking part in the third Blackpool Pride event on tomorrow which ties in with the International Day against Homophobia.

Are you attending Blackpool Pride?

Comment below and let us know how you rated the 2008 event

Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people will be promoting diversity and the contribution they make to the wider community.

Old Bill, the police Morris Minor car, will lead officers and staff who will be carrying a banner advertising Western Division LGBT Neighbourhood Policing Team.

They'll also be promoting how the police and communities are working together to tackle homophobia.

The parade leaves St Chad's headland at noon and makes its way along Blackpool Promenade to North Pier, where the rest of the weekend's activities are taking place.

After the parade Lancashire Constabulary will be having a stall on the Pier all day with recruitment staff and members of the LGBT Policing Team.

A team of officers will also be visiting all the LGBT venues at regular intervals throughout the weekend.

PC Lindsey Nottingham said: "Despite a number of recent legal changes in the UK leading to greater equality, unfortunately attitudes are slower to change.

"Many LGBT people in this country still face abuse, and sometimes even violence, purely on the grounds of their sexual orientation.

"The pride parades create a focus through which the LGBT community can project their courage, solidarity, pride and diversity and the contribution they make to the wider community.

"By participating in the parade, it is hoped members of the LGBT community will be more confident in reporting crimes to LancashireConstabulary as well as recognising the Constabulary as an employer of choice."

  • Are you attending the Blackpool Pride? Click the link below to email us your pictures and video footage. Mobile pictures should start with BLPRIDE before adding the number 80360.
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Your Say YourCitizen

Bilboscroat, Blackpool says...
5:14pm Sat 17 May 08

Disgusting display of depravity - and partly funded by OUR Council Tax. Call that Equality?

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James, Blackpool says...
8:58pm Sun 18 May 08

"Our" council tax?

As one of an estimated 6,000 gay men and women living in the Blackpool area, I'm proud that some of OUR council tax is being spent in this way.

Yes, that's exactly what I would call equality!!!

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CJ, Blackpool says...
8:25pm Mon 19 May 08

Rather it be spent on something that benefits the town rather than wasting it on workshy layabouts on benefits. This stupid Labour Government spends far too much on the welfare state and not enough on everything else (except for greedy MPs salaries)

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Lindsey, Blackpool says...
9:31pm Mon 19 May 08

Bilboscroat - It is exactly because of attitudes like yours that myself and other officers gave up our time free of charge to both take part in the event and later stay on to Police the event. What a fabulous weekend everyone had, including ourselves - at no expense to either the Pride committee or council tax payers.

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Mark, Blackpool says...
10:11pm Mon 19 May 08

Bilboscroat is obviously one of those people that hides behind a computer for anonymity rather than standing up for whatever he/she believes in.
I feel that Bilboscroat should have attended the event and voiced the opinions about the event being a “Disgusting display of depravity” to the members taking part in the parade and the supporting public.
I am glad the Police took the time and made the effort to support part of the local community.

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Jill, says...
10:19pm Mon 19 May 08

Thankyou for your ignorant and prejudicial comment - comments like this will ensure that the Pride event will continue to go on in future years and going off what a fantastic event this years was, will continue to get bigger and better. Anyone with even just a limited understanding of Blackpools economy would realise that Pride, and similar themed events, is one of the few things that could contribute to the rescue of a declining Blackpool.

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Mark, Blackpool says...
10:33pm Mon 19 May 08

As the Vice Chairman of Blackpool Pride I would like to reply to both CJ and Bilboscroat.
Firstly, it is because we are neither depraved nor disgusted in ourselves that we are PROUD of who we are! Had you chosen to place your prejudice aside and join us for just a few hours on North Pier, I am sure your view might have changed, it might even have opened your eyes and mind to a more accepting and understanding world!
The Police in Blackpool work closely with ALL the towns citizens, and do not favour colour, age, race, religion, creed or sexual orientation, and it is that policy that has earned them nothing but respect throughout the local community.
Blackpool Pride cost this year, in excess of £40,000 to stage, and as one of a handfull of people who worked hard all year to raise that money I can assure you that NOT ONE PENNY of it came from the Council Taxes!!! so you have obviously either assumed that, or been hugely misinformed!
And what makes you assume that gay people are workshy layabouts? Personnaly I work well OVER 100 hours per week, and give up much of my spare time each month to raising money for other worthwhile causes (NON LGBT related)... Macmillan Nurses, Veteran respite homes etc.
To correct James, there are an estimated 17,000 LGBT people live within the Blackpool area, MOST of whom contribute greatly to our community and society, so please reserve your judgement untill you know what you are talking about!
And if you require one last thought.....
GAY = GOOD AS YOU!

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CJ, Blackpool says...
11:03pm Mon 19 May 08

I am sorry Mark, I never insinuated that gay people were workshy layabouts. My comment was in support of Blackpool Pride. I was saying it was money better spent on an event that benefits Blackpool than on the overlarge number of people on benefits. It was not referring to gay people, just the high number of people on benefits in this town regardless of gender. I have no problem with gay people, I support the event wholeheartedly

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CJ, Blackpool says...
11:05pm Mon 19 May 08

I accept that it was not funded by council tax money, but even if it was, then I would approve of it, as this is an event that benefits Blackpool.

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Mark, Blackpool says...
11:45pm Mon 19 May 08

Sorry if I misunderstood your comment CJ. I read it in the negative, but reading your latest post it clearly was not.
Blackpool Pride brings over £1million of commerce into the town in what would normally be a relatively quiet month, and that can only benefit the towns economy for ALL!

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CJ, Blackpool says...
6:06pm Tue 20 May 08

No problem I thought about the wording of my original post and then realised how it could be misread. Like I say I was simply stating how the event does benefit the town enormously, I am glad we have resolved the misunderstanding, I apologise for the confusion

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Sue, Poulton Le Fylde says...
10:11am Wed 21 May 08

How disgraceful to see that there are still people in the world as Bilboscroat. Pride weekend 08 was a brilliant time for everyone to get together including Families who showed there support for Blackpool Pride. It was a great weekend for Blackpool.

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Bilboscroat, Blackpool says...
3:36pm Sun 25 May 08

That stirred you up! I have NO problem with gay people. My problem is that we would not be allowed to have a Straight Pride March - Council funded or not. That is what is unequal about such events. Sorry to inform you all that there is still a majority of "people like Bilboscroat" and there always will be - get over it!!

Photographs of men dressed as women, thrusting their micro-skirted pelvises at the camera is hardly a good advert for your cause either.

Be as equal as you want, but don't thrust it in our faces every five minutes.

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Oggi, Blackpool says...
4:48pm Sun 25 May 08

I have gay friends, so am by no means homophobic, but do have a problem with those who feel the need to force it upon other. I do not walk about stating "I AM STRAIGHT AND PROUND" all the time, so why should gay people???? I also have a problem with the fact that the council funded this event, but would not allow the Blackpool Toy Run (bikers raising lots of money etc for childrens charities)to go ahead this year due to not having the funding available for it to happen safely. How can funding be allowed for one, ahen it is not available for the other, which is, in my view, a much more worthwhile event. I think the council need to sort out their priorities and put good causes before political correctness!!!!!!!

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Oggi, Blackpool says...
6:02pm Sun 25 May 08

Sorry about the bad spelling in the above post - was holding the baby whilst typing!!!!!!

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LJ, St Annes says...
9:42pm Tue 27 May 08

Hi Bilboscroat and Oggi, I have read your comments and observations and agree that others will share them. A lot of what you have said appears to result from limited understanding. I would like to invite you and any others who have concerns or queries as to why such an event takes place, to the monthly LGBT Community forum meeting - - open to all and completely self funded. This takes place second Thursday every month,1830hrs at Blackpool Town Hall. You are more than welcome to come along and ask any thing you would like to ask or just to listen to some of the horror stories of discrimination that people suffer simply due to who they love - it may make you understand why such a community event is so important.

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Picture from previous Blackpool Pride events Picture from previous Blackpool Pride events

Picture from previous Blackpool Pride events

Picture from previous Blackpool Pride events



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