Call for Kirklees’ new Reform-led council to support future Pride events
Locals have shared hope that Kirklees’ new Reform-led Council will continue to “show support” for Pride despite “attacks” on the LGBTQ+ community in similar councils.
This year’s Huddersfield Pride took place on July 4 – the town’s 45th anniversary of the first Pride event held outside of London.
According to campaigner Mike Forster, 70, the event was one of the most “successful in decades”, drawing hundreds of people, featuring a number of bands and acts, along with stalls, and a demonstration of 250 people to commemorate Huddersfield’s first Pride.
Yet, following the election of a Reform-led council and cabinet, headed by Coun Sarah Wood, organisers like Mr Forster have expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding Huddersfield Pride 2027 following actions by neighbouring Reform-led councils.
For example, in Durham, the Reform council chose to take down an LGBTQ+ Pride flag at its headquarters, defending the decision by the council’s deputy leader Darren Grimes, who said the decision was not anti-gay but rather “anti-tokenism”.
The Reform UK-led council in Calderdale has recommended a new flag-flying policy that would formally exclude the Pride flag from being flown on council buildings.
Mr Forster said his hope was to form a “good relationship” with Coun Wood and her team, and to fight the “attack” on Pride seen in other councils.
He said: “We hope the council will continue with their support for Pride because the celebration of Pride is the celebration of the whole community, and to show we come together in support of equality and justice.”
“We will be asking the council to put even more resources in, with the hopes Pride will be even bigger next year.”
The leader of the council was approached for comment.