Hull Pride

Unite’s ÂŁ17,000 sponsorship of a landmark UK Pride event in Hull – 2017 City of Culture – underlines the country’s largest union’s support for gay rights, whether in the workplace or in life generally.

Hull is to host the first-ever UK Pride as part of the 2017 City Of Culture celebrations on Saturday July 22 and Unite is contributing ÂŁ12,000 towards the cost of the parade.

The union also has co-partner status in jointly sponsoring the LGBT Sinfonia Orchestra to the tune of ÂŁ5,000 when it plays in Queens Gardens on July 22.

The event is the first time all of the UK’s 70 Pride festivals have come together to plan a single national event highlighting the issues affecting the LGBT community.

The event will mark the 50^th anniversary of the decriminalisation of gay sex when the Sexual Offences Act was passed in 1967.

Unite regional coordinating officer for the Humber region Bev Clarkson said, “I am extremely proud to be involved in the sponsorship by Unite of the first-ever UK Pride event which is taking place in Hull, City of Culture in 2017.

“Our £17,000 sponsorship for the UK Pride in Hull underlines Unite’s strong and unwavering commitment to LGBT issues whether in the workplace and, more generally, in everyday life.

“Hull is the gateway to the north and to be chosen firstly as City of Culture and now as the first-ever venue for the UK Pride event is a great privilege.

“In 2016, a decade after Hull was crowned one of the worst places in Britain to live, it was named one of the world’s top 10 cities to visit.”

Unite will have the main stall, which will have pride of place in Queens Gardens. The union also has space for 200 members to participate in the march and is sponsoring water stations along the route of the parade.