Council considers support of Pride Parade
The Causeway Coast and Glens Council has delayed plans to support a Pride festival in the area after DUP raise concerns.
Last month, the Leisure and Development committee discussed supporting a LGBTQIA+ pride parade and festival in Portrush. The committee voted in favour of the motion by a narrow margin, seven votes to six.
The event is scheduled to take place in 2024, following on from the success of an ‘unofficial’ parade which took place in Portrush last August.
However, at a full council meeting last week, DUP Alderman Mark Fielding proposed that a full equity impact assessment should be conducted before the council agrees to proceed with their support.
Alderman Fielding also suggested that a workshop be held, which would consider the implications of the parade on council workers. He described that many key workers may not wish to be involved in the festival “because of a matter of faith.”
When making his motion, Alderman Fielding said: “The Pride movement is contentious, and it does divide opinion. It has a political agenda and has not always shown respect for those who have an alternative viewpoint.”
Providing reason for his cautious approach, Alderman Fielding stated that “Causeway Pride was front and centre at the recent Palestine solidarity protest rally held in Portrush. These rallies have contributed to the increase in antisemitism, which is at its highest for some time.”
The key objectors to the motion were Sinn Fein, and Leanne Peacock sought to make clear that the council are not organising the parade but rather offering to “support the group that do organise it.”
Sinn Fein’s Niamh Archibald added that their support of the parade “is sincerely just to show those citizens that they are seen as equal by this council.”
In response to these points, councillors from a number of parties raised queries over the intentions of Sinn Fein’s support.
PUP leader Russell Watton stated that Sinn Fein “have as much interest in that gay parade as they have in an orange parade” and are “very quick in asking for equality when it suits.”
Weighing in on last August’s parade, Councillor Watton described that “councilmen have told me they weren’t happy working there at all.”
The UUP’s Darryl Wilson agreed, stating that Sinn Fein’s support “serves a selfish reason” and that they only hope to gain “a perception of being interested in the event.”
The motion was passed, 21 votes for and 12 against, meaning that council support of Causeway Pride in 2024 will rest on the outcome of the upcoming equity impact assessment and accompanying workshop.
