Flying flags for solidarity

LGBT members make their way to Parliament Square

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

A RAINBOW flag flew symbolically above Oldham Parish Church to mark the borough's 13th Pride parade.

Hundreds of people gathered below in the new Parliament Square for a parade and events highlighting the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Activities mixed fun and celebrations with the serious message of 'No Place For Hate'. The motto was everywhere, from T-shirts and stickers to speeches.

Speakers marked the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, through the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, and also rallied against modern hate crime and extremism, including last year's Orlando nightclub shootings, which killed 49 people, and this year's Manchester Arena bombing.

The Arena terror attack, at the end of an Ariana Grande pop concert, killed 22 including Royton mums Lisa Lees and Alison Howe.

Saturday's parade included a number of emergency service workers who attended the Arena attack, plus older gay people from across Oldham who lived under the threat of prosecution before the 1967 act was passed.

Saturday's events began with a quarter peal bell ringing from the Parish Church by LGBT bellringers, then the colourful parade left The Tommyfield pub to make its way through the town centre to Parliament Square.

The procession was headed by a large pink Oldham owl and a "human rainbow flag", made up of more than 100 people wearing colourful T-shirts bearing the motto of 'No Place for Hate'.

Among those taking part was Pauline Bell, from Mossley, who runs the Butties sandwich shop on Oldham's Union Street. She had made breakfast for the organisers and packed lunches for volunteers .

Pauline said: "This is a really good event. It does not exclude anyone and caters for everyone - all ages, genders and sexualities. It's good that everybody joins together. I'm part of a gang who gets involved, aged from 17 to 70."

Her daughters Nicola and Chloe, aged 25 and 19, from Springhead, led the pink Oldham owl.

Jonny Higgins (29), from Royton, who was DJ for the evening events at The George pub in the town centre, said: "It's important people realise everybody is equal. There is still a lot of prejudice and a lot of narrow-minded people. However, each year Oldham Pride attracts more support, which is a good sign."

Wayne Zaslawski-Goulden (38), who grew up in Fitton Hill and attended Hathershaw School, said: "Because of all the terrible things happening around the world, it's really important that people come together.

"We had the Manchester Arena attack, and gay men have been killed in eastern Europe. I still find it staggering that if you are found to be gay in some countries today, you'll face death."

Samantha Nicholson-Hickling, vice-president and LGBT representative of Oldham branch of the National Union of Teachers, said: "We've supported this since the first event and felt it was really important, especially with the difficulties over the curriculum in schools.

"Sexual relationship education does not cover everything. If you are gay, bi-sexual or transgender, education is not covering everything you need to know. It also only provides other young people with a partial view of sexuality. This is a national issue and more needs to be done about it."

The Rev Derek Palmer, vicar of Oldham Parish Church, said: "The church and Oldham Rainbow Association have held a number of events together, many of which have been quite sad. These have included vigils after the Orlando nightclub attack.

"We lit the inside of the church with rainbow colours, but today we have the rainbow flag on top of the tower. We want Oldham to know that the Church of England stands with you. There's no place for hate."

Oldham Chief Inspector Sarah Morton, who came out as gay in 1995, spoke about how workplace culture has changed and paid tribute to the late Sgt Julie Frank, who formed the GMP Lesbian and Gay Association in 2002.

Oldham Council leader Councillor Jean Stretton and Deputy Mayor Councillor Javid Iqbal were also at the event.

Oldham West MP Jim McMahon said: "Given the division and hatred in the world, this is about the need for people to come together to show love, compassion and understanding.

"It's a show of solidarity and a chance for everybody who believes in equality to show their support."

• Check out more pictures of Oldham Pride on our picture sales page.