Resort’s Gay Pride event ‘to be biggest yet’

The festival will be held over the first weekend in September and it is hoped the event will attract hundreds of members of the gay and lesbian community from across the region.

However, organisers have stressed that the event, which was first held in 2009, is aimed at all sections of society.

The chairwoman of the Scarborough Gay Pride planning group, Karen Chapman, admitted that organisers had faced major opposition from certain sections of the town about the event.

Several letters of complaint were sent to Scarborough Borough Council from residents who spoke out against last year’s event in Peasholm Park.

Mother-of-three Mrs Chapman said: “We want to get as many people involved as possible, and make it a real community event.

“I am heterosexual and my three children will be coming along, but unfortunately there are people out there who simply don’t want to see this sort of thing in Scarborough.

“The borough council has been brilliant and we have got support from several businesses in the town, but there are a lot of other people who have given us the cold shoulder, unfortunately.

“Gay Pride is about celebrating diversity in society – if we were all the same, the world would be a very boring place.”

This year’s festival will begin on Friday, September 2, when a boat cruise is being organised around the bay of Scarborough.

It will culminate in an beach picnic with live acts on stage on Sunday, September 4, on the town’s North Bay beach – the first time a Gay Pride event has been held there.

More information and anyone wishing to sponsor the event can call Mrs Chapman on 07795 623214 or email [email protected]