Blackburn gay pride event bid

9:50am Monday 24th September 2012 in News

DAY OF COLOUR A gay pride event similar to one that could be held in Blackburn DAY OF COLOUR A gay pride event similar to one that could be held in Blackburn

A WOMAN is organising Blackburn’s first gay pride festival next summer.

Tina Walsh, 43, has contacted the council about staging Pride in the Park at Witton Park on and June 1 and 2 next year.

She is also hoping to stage a parade in the town featuring colourful floats.

Around 2,000 tickets have now gone on sale for the event featuring 80s singers including Toyah Wilcox and Hazell Dean, performers and former TV chef Rusty Lee.

Tina is organising the festival with her partner Samantha Cohen, 37, and said the response had been mostly positive.

She said: “It’s going well. A lot of people have said they are glad we are doing it locally as they can't afford to go out of town.

“I want to stage it in my home town because people have to travel to Manchester or Liverpool.

“It has gone dead in Blackburn, this is why I want a big parade and the whole hog.

“Lots of people have been emailing saying they want to be volunteers because it's the first one. I'm going to hold a meeting in Blackburn because so many people want to help out.

“I’ve never done anything like this in my life.

“There is a gay minority in Blackburn. Some people may be against it but why can't we?

“This is not just about the gay community. Thousands of straight people go to these festivals with their children.”

A drag queen, Take That and Robbie Williams tribute acts have also been booked and a fun fair could also be held.

Tina, a former cook who worked at Hill View residential children's home in Haslingden, and Samantha, a mum of four from Essex, have applied to the council to gain permission for the event.

Martin Eden, director of leisure at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We have had a booking enquiry. As with any event, the organisers would have to first satisfy us on a wide range of requirements before an official application could be processed and approved."

Comments(26)

Kermit The Frog says...
9:55am Mon 24 Sep 12

Oh dear, I wonder if that clown RU Insane will post on this thread - he seems to enjoy commenting on the fact that Burnley was going to host a gay pride event.

Now it turns out it is his beloved town who have the 'honour'

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

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Robbie says...
10:22am Mon 24 Sep 12

This is very much needed in the town, i am very proud to be from blackburn and love the town, but some of the views from people within the town are very backward. sadly i dont think this event will change things at all.

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Gennoe1 says...
11:52am Mon 24 Sep 12

Your lesbian partner has four children? took a while for honesty to kick in.

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LittleMissKc says...
12:19pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Gennoe1 wrote:
Your lesbian partner has four children? took a while for honesty to kick in.
Tina has 3 daughters herself, so 7 kids between them. I usually go to Manchester Pride, the atmosphere there is incredible .. I can't see it being the same in Blackburn though.

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Kelly3 says...
12:23pm Mon 24 Sep 12

I am anticipating a lot of negative response from the less tolerant members of the community who, sadly, seem to be the majority in this town.
However, hopefully I will be proven wrong.
Hope the event goes ahead - will be great seeing this come to Blackburn :)

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louderfasterlonger says...
12:41pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Is this really the sort of event that will take off in Blackburn ? Not even sure there are any Gay Clubs in the town. Good luck to Tina though for her enthusiasm.
However, 2000 tickets sold for an event that is only at the "booking enquiry" stage, either brave or foolhardy !

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tenerc says...
12:53pm Mon 24 Sep 12

the reason it`s huge in Manchester is because people will travel there to be them selves where NOBODY knows them, also there gay friendly.

save your money and time, give this up now.

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Ladysadie says...
12:58pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Nil by mouth, why does EVERY SINGLE story have to be made all about "the Asians" or "the Muslims?" Do you not have a life of your own? I won't attend the parade,that's my choice. I'm white British, it's not only muslims who dont agree with homosexuality so should I be forced to fly the rainbow flag? Do you fly a muslim flag for their parades to show your tolerance of the Muslim faith? No? That's your choice, just like these ladies can choose to organise a parade and I wouldn't dream of trying to stop any of them from following their beliefs or life choices but that doesn't mean I have to agree or follow them too!

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makaveli96 says...
1:20pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Is Steve Kean?

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BacupBoy says...
1:58pm Mon 24 Sep 12

It's all wrong

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Excluded again says...
2:14pm Mon 24 Sep 12

If enough people want the event, people are prepared to organise it and arrangements can be made with the relevant authorities, then good luck to them.

People should be free to celebrate whatever they want in a free society as long as they do so peacefully and legally.

As with any social event, if its not your cup of tea then don't go.

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kim says...
3:24pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Live and let live, I say.

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Ian123xyz says...
4:08pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Good idea. People are often going on about "diversity and tolerance" but what they really mean is tolerance of what they happen to approve of and of what suits their agenda which isn't really tolerance at all.

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tinasam says...
4:25pm Mon 24 Sep 12

speaking on behalf of myself and Tina i would like to thank everyone for their fair comments. its nice to see that even if you would not like to attend, your support of this event in your area is nice to see.
We are just trying to bring back income to local businesses and to help support local charities in the area, whilst bringing a great event with even greater acts for everyone to enjoy and have a good time, which is what life is all about, enjoying life :)
many thanks again,
Tina and Sam

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Darwen Malc says...
4:36pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Blackburn, unlike Liverpool, Manchester and Blackpool, does not have a thriving gay scene, and so I am wondering if this will work. Having said that, is is brilliant that someone is prepared to try it out, and if it does go ahead I wish you every sucess and hope that I am proved wrong!

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Fire Fly says...
5:35pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Good luck with it, it will make a change to have something so different in the town.

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tinasam says...
5:50pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Fire Fly wrote:
Good luck with it, it will make a change to have something so different in the town.
Thankyou

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tinasam says...
5:52pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Darwen Malc wrote:
Blackburn, unlike Liverpool, Manchester and Blackpool, does not have a thriving gay scene, and so I am wondering if this will work. Having said that, is is brilliant that someone is prepared to try it out, and if it does go ahead I wish you every sucess and hope that I am proved wrong!
Thankyou

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woolywords says...
6:10pm Mon 24 Sep 12

As ever, the abysmal reporting style of LT has made a mess of the story here. I think the Party in the Park is already arranged, it's the Parade through the town centre that requires the extra permission. As I read it, these are two separate events but I could be wrong.
As for who is organising it and why, I couldn't care less because anything that brightens up the dull, lifeless state of the town centre on a weekend, has to be welcomed, in my book!
Having seen similar events both here and abroad, the louder, the brighter, the better for me, please.
As they say, if you've got it, flaunt it.

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sen c ble says...
6:35pm Mon 24 Sep 12

nil bye mouth wrote:
Im sure the wonderfull tolerant asian community will get involved too,how about flying the rainbow flag from every mosque as a sign of tolerence to gay people maybe even allow some floats with drag queens and music along audley and whalley range ?
The asians will continue to mind their own business, but please, don't ever make the mistake of interferring in mine!

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2 for 5p says...
6:56pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Well well well. Now lets analyze this gay pride nonsence.
What kind of reaction would I get if I organized a straight pride frestival

Exactly

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Benjis mum says...
7:36pm Mon 24 Sep 12

I would prefer to see a gay pride march in Blackburn to seeing those people that want to deny people the right to free speech marching, fighting and throwing stuff about, anytime theres an EDL or BNP demonstration, whether thats the UAF or any other organisation thats against democracy.

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thoroughbred says...
5:30pm Tue 25 Sep 12

I'm not gay, but I think this is a very brave move by these ladies and an exciting prospect for our town and I would love to attend this spectacular event. Good Luck, please get the LET to post updates!

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aggressive.onion.vendor says...
8:52pm Tue 25 Sep 12

hey, about time! thing is, gay pride, coming out and identifying yourself as gay is one thing. on that particular subject, i grew up in blackburn and christ there are so many men (in particular) in denial of the third sexuality (arguably four or even five!). what tempers my attitude towards gay pride (a bit) is that in many parts of the world it seems to have become a purely narcissistic thing. what troubles me, are the many tens of millions of gay, bi and transgendered persecuted cruelly by idiot religious zealots and dumb ignorant rednecks. we ought to use our privilege to help people to become themselves and put two fingers up at bigotry.

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karltop says...
6:24pm Wed 26 Sep 12

Who's the woman in the photo?.. She's beautiful!

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Terrye says...
4:49pm Sun 30 Sep 12

Only just seen this article, one of the problems of being a transported Blackburnite, think it s an awesome idea. On my frequent trips back home, I've found the town to be pretty LGBT friendly and a Pride in Blackburn is a great way of celebrating that.

Get a Facebook group started as thats a brilliant way to raise awareness and gauge opinion. Good luck to you and anything I can do to help, even from here in London, I'm more than happy to do.

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