[Livia]

Originally Posted by Beso

What is it now.

A bit of a sh1tshow. Shame, considering what it achieved.

[Beso]

Originally Posted by Livia

A bit of a sh1tshow. Shame, considering what it achieved.

I've been to one in London, it was to busy for me. That must have been about 10 years ago though. It doesnt seem as busy or as popular amongst the LGB community now though. Everything's probably overpriced now, call it payback time from the companies that pandered to it in the past.

[Glenn.]

Originally Posted by Beso

I've been to one in London, it was to busy for me. That must have been about 10 years ago though. It doesnt seem as busy or as popular amongst the LGB community now though. Everything's probably overpriced now, call it payback time from the companies that pandered to it in the past.

You’re just misinformed. I’ll fix that for you.

2014
~750,000 spectators
2015
~1 million spectators, ~30,000 marchers ()
2016
~1 million+ spectators ()
2017
~1 million spectators; 26,000+ marchers ()
2018
~1 million+ spectators, ~30,000 marchers ()
2019
~1.5 million spectators ()
2020–21
Canceled due to COVID‑19 ()
2022
1–1.5 million (50th anniversary) ()
2023
~1.5 million+ ()
2024–25
~1.5 million+ signal strong continued turnout

As you can see in the last ten years, it’s grown quite a bit and numbers have been consistent.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Now all the free funding has been pulled they will fade away a fair bit

[Glenn.]

Pride events contribute between £80-£100m annually to the countries economy. How much do homophobes and bigots contribute?

[Glenn.]

They don’t contribute much beyond Facebook comments and a few angry letters to the council, to be honest. While Pride events bring in tens of millions to the UK economy every year, homophobes mostly contribute bitter tweets, pub rants, and the occasional Daily Mail headline.

So, you know… not exactly a net gain. But congrats guys!

[Beso]

Originally Posted by Glenn.

You’re just misinformed. I’ll fix that for you.

2014
~750,000 spectators
2015
~1 million spectators, ~30,000 marchers ()
2016
~1 million+ spectators ()
2017
~1 million spectators; 26,000+ marchers ()
2018
~1 million+ spectators, ~30,000 marchers ()
2019
~1.5 million spectators ()
2020–21
Canceled due to COVID‑19 ()
2022
1–1.5 million (50th anniversary) ()
2023
~1.5 million+ ()
2024–25
~1.5 million+ signal strong continued turnout

As you can see in the last ten years, it’s grown quite a bit and numbers have been consistent.

Must have been all the attention I got that made it feel busy.

Nice to see it growing.

[Crimson Dynamo]

But despite huge visitor numbers, organisers say the event – and others like it around the country – face an uncertain future due to a drop in funding and falling volunteer numbers.

More than 85 Pride organisations say they’ve seen a reduction in corporate sponsorships or partnerships, according to a questionnaire by the UK Pride Organisers Network (UKPON), which said it represents the majority of UK Pride events.

https://lordspress.co.uk/business/lo...falling-funds/

The free funding has stopped and it's having a huge impact

[Crimson Dynamo]

Also various scandals like Surrey and indeed this thread topic

[Glenn.]

I’m sure they’ll be fine. Who knows maybe they’ll go back to being protests.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Livia

When they go to football matches, maybe they can just watch the game. They're there already after all. And during royal parades instead of watching the crowd maybe they can watch the horses go past.

They are there to do a job. While I want them to be friendly and approachable, I don't want them joining in with the festivities.

But the Police do watch the games, as well as also doing their job.

[BBXX]

Originally Posted by Glenn.

I’m sure they’ll be fine. Who knows maybe they’ll go back to being protests.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about the level of corporate involvement , it’s great for funding and great for the staff at said company, but sometimes it just looks like a sponsorship parade. I much prefer seeing the community groups, sports teams etc…

[Ammi]

…that linked London Press article about the funding is really interesting, actually…how global corporations with head offices based in America have had their DEI funding cut, which has meant that even long standing contributors and supporters of events like Pride …?…no longer have their budgets to be able to support…the saying being used…’If America sneezes, the UK catches cold…’…hopefully the Farage man won’t ever become PM in the UK because he’s already pledged to eradicate DEI funding and take us all back to the dark ages of exclusivity…

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

Tbh I don't really understand the issue here?

Do they not have LGBT folk work openly within the police there? Pretty much all of local govt attends Pride events here, including Sheriff. It's not a hidden thing and I don't think considered to be that heavily political...?

On the topic of vehicles though:

Deputy under investigation after comment about gay pride parade
(2019) https://abc13.com/post/deputy-in-hot...mment/5366604/

He says his comment was related to conversation within the comments about HCSO's use of taxpayer money to use a county vehicle in a specialty parade. He has since deleted the comment.

It's a dumb comment because taxpayer money is being used to send out officers on OT to make sure people don't get stupid. Putting a car in the parade is a positive PR move and helps with recruitment. Law enforcement are facing serious shortages as people retire out.

I don't tend to view Pride as a referendum (for lack of a better word) on the current buzzword issues. I see it as a catch all invite for different kinds of people to come together to support each other's ideas around celebrating what Pride generally represents and if there are protest-y people (loud voices for their favorite thing) participating, that sits really normal for most here as we're accustomed to exercising our Freedom of Speech at opportune moments?... but the community event itself doesn't necessarily have to carry the same political messaging. I've known LGBT folk on all parts of the political spectrum here, anyway... but maybe our area is just more accepting.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

But the Police do watch the games, as well as also doing their job.

but they don't celebrate goals Mock do they or join in with clapping and chants(and they don't watch games as the traditional job of the policeman is done by min wage security at games now)

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

But the Police do watch the games, as well as also doing their job.

My uncle does EJs (Extra jobs) with official games here. They certainly watch the games from within the role of why they're there. Staff also watch the games as well during breaks in activity Uncle has also brought back lots of goodies from those events for himself, family and friends though from the shops...

Police play a critical role in the communities they serve so it makes sense they're there to be front and center in events responsible for safety, but also on occasion interacting with people in a non-police-y way to show everything is normal. That's normal also in daily police work. Having family in the role I know they can't "relax" the same way as others, especially in uniform, because there has to be default a line between them and other people that can't be fully crossed the same way it might in normal circumstances... so they would on average be more alert than most people even if they're "showing pride". Maybe wearing a department pin or something... it's not unusual special items sometimes get made that we're able to have to wear or display at home or in different settings. In this case, anything LGBT-related would just be considered depicting parts of the community that they actually serve

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

I'm assuming that they are there primarily to Police tbf.

I would understand it more if the Police were openly taking sides in the Israel vs. Palestine protests (which I know has happened tbf,) because the Police need to de-escalate situations like those, and the UK Police have sometimes failed at that.

But it's a Pride event, it's not really harming anyone.

I agree.

It's actually very sad to see that this person who complained is probably against PRIDE events anyway.
Along with others they'd like them banned more than likely.

I think it's far more rooted in homophobia myself.
Gay people in the Police have had to endure equally bad discrimination in the past against them as in the armed forces too.
I see nothing wrong personally in joining in a fun event and celebrations of freedoms hard won by anyone, regardless of profession.
I'd more welcome and celebrate the Police allowed to be how they want to be too as to sexuality.
Everyone should be free from homophobic prejudice of others, it's really sad it it is something that IS still alive and kicking.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I agree.

It's actually very sad to see that this person who complained is probably against PRIDE events anyway.
Along with others they'd like them banned more than likely.

.

The lady in question is an out and proud Lesbian

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…that linked London Press article about the funding is really interesting, actually…how global corporations with head offices based in America have had their DEI funding cut, which has meant that even long standing contributors and supporters of events like Pride …?…no longer have their budgets to be able to support…the saying being used…’If America sneezes, the UK catches cold…’…hopefully the Farage man won’t ever become PM in the UK because he’s already pledged to eradicate DEI funding and take us all back to the dark ages of exclusivity…

If we've (US taxpayers) have been giving enough money that it makes its way abroad to fund their organization, then the taxpayer were being ripped off and it was rightfully cut, imv.

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Crimson Dynamo

but they don't celebrate goals Mock do they or join in with clapping and chants(and they don't watch games as the traditional job of the policeman is done by min wage security at games now)

as if police officers can't be fans of certain teams


also they can celebrate post match, when they are home, grabbing a beer most likely

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Maru

If we've (US taxpayers) have been giving enough money that it makes its way abroad to fund their organization, then the taxpayer were being ripped off and it was rightfully cut, imv.

…that’s a fair comment also, Maru…but I do feel that it’s a bit more layered than that for those companies who branch out internationally …even in regards to tax etc, to invest in events in the countries that they want to and do trade in makes complete sense financially also…or has often done in the past, that’s obviously changing because of very controlled budget cuts and ‘controlled’ does have the feel of ‘controlling’ by (some) governments…

…EDIT:… would have thought its referring to private businesses also../…not any funded by tax payers…

[BBXX]

Originally Posted by Crimson Dynamo

The lady in question is an out and proud Lesbian

Once again, there are plenty of LGBT people who don't like Pride. We are not a monolithic group. You can dislike pride and be LGBT.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

as if police officers can't be fans of certain teams


also they can celebrate post match, when they are home, grabbing a beer most likely

You are arguing a point no one has made

not sure why?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by BBXX

Once again, there are plenty of LGBT people who don't like Pride. We are not a monolithic group. You can dislike pride and be LGBT.

Indeed but the rather dramatic implication was not they they did not care for "Pride" it was that they actively disliked it

" is probably against PRIDE events anyway."

"They'd like them banned more than likely."

"I think it's far more rooted in homophobia myself."

I sincerely doubt any of the above is even remotely true

[BBXX]

Originally Posted by Crimson Dynamo

Indeed but the rather dramatic implication was not they they did not care for "Pride" it was that they actively disliked it

" is probably against PRIDE events anyway."

"They'd like them banned more than likely."

"I think it's far more rooted in homophobia myself."

I sincerely doubt any of the above is even remotely true

It might not be true, but it doesn't mean it couldn't be. Some LGBT people do actively dislike Pride, some LGBT would like it banned and some LGBT people are homophobic against other subsections of the LGBT community.

That's all true.