“Don’t rain on our parade”, LGBT Labour urge Boris

The following open letter has been sent from LGBT Labour to Boris Johnson:

Dear Boris

On Saturday the eyes of the world will be on London for Pride. Millions of people from across the world will gather in our great capital for World Pride to celebrate the spirit of equality and to send a signal that homophobia is not acceptable.

This is the first time London has hosted World Pride, an honour for Britain not just the LGBT community.

In the year of national hero Alan Turing’s centenary, the Jubilee and when London is hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is inconceivable that World Pride will be a shadow of its potential due to an organisational dispute.

Pride has always been about hope – about achieving a better world; expressing our diversity; and being proud and defiant against bigotry. World Pride is an opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made on equality, as well as to party. It is a message of hope to young LGBT people in fear of bullying and to the LGBT community around the world that we will stand in solidarity with your cause for human rights. And in this year, it is also an opportunity to make the case for equal marriage.

But Pride needs more than hope. It also needs the practical support of community groups, sponsors, and the relevant authorities. We urge you to use your power as Mayor to get Westminster City Council back to the table with the organisers of London Pride and sort this out. We understand sponsors are willing to come forward and close the financial gap. Now we need political will to get the procession back on track.

Boris, in the words of the song: don’t rain on our parade.

Yours sincerely

James Asser

Co-chair, LGBT Labour

Hannah Blythyn

Co-chair, LGBT Labour

Michael Cashman MEP

Clive Betts MP

Chris Bryant MP

Lord Collins of Highbury

Tom Copley AM

Len McClusky

General Secretary, Unite the Union

Diana Holland,

Assistant General Secretary, Unite the Union

Ged Nicholls,

General Secretary, Accord

Maria Exall,

Chair, TUC LGBT Committee

Deirdre Costigan

Co-chair, Unison LGBT Committee

Linda Roy,

CWU National Equalities Officer

Stewart Brown,

LGBT Rep, Fire Brigades Union Executive Council

Richard Angell,

Community Representative TUC LGBT Committee

Robert Philpott,

Director, Progress

Jenny Douglas,

Chair, Unite Scottish LGBT committee

Laurie Smith,

CWU Representative TUC LGBT Committee

David Braniff-Herbert

GMB National Young Members Representative

Simon Weller,

National Organiser, Aslef

Brian Shaw,

Chair, GMB National Equality Forum

Sandie Maile,

Chair, Shout London

Anne Ruzylo,

Prison Officers Association

Gordon Marsden MP

Sue Stelfox

Prospect representative, TUC LGBT committee

Chris Bryant MP

Andrew Pakes

Labour & Co-operative Parliamentary Spokesperson for Milton Keynes

Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury