Labour MP Angela Eagle ha
s today been announced as the Patron to Liverpool Pride. Angela was one of Britain’s first Lesbian MPs when she was elected in 1992.
Angela, who was recently named 11th in the World Pride Power List, will give a speech at the parade muster point before leading the march through the city. The parade will end at Liverpool’s famous waterfront.
Eagle, on top of being an inspirational gay woman, has always been an outspoken advocate of gay rights throughout her career and played a leading role in the abolition of anti-gay laws including Section 28, introduced by the Thatcher Government, which banned the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools.
From 1997 to 2010 Angela served as a government minister under Prime Minister Tony Blair and later as Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions for Gordon Brown. She is currently Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and chair of Labour’s National Policy Forum.
On announcing the news, she said: “I am proud to be the first official patron of Liverpool Pride. As an organisation Liverpool Pride does so much to celebrate the diversity in communities across Merseyside. It also works to tear down barriers, stand up for rights and insist on equality for LGBT people.”
Zoran Blackie, Chair of Liverpool Pride said: “Liverpool Pride is honoured that such an inspirational figure within the campaign for the rights of LGBT people in this country is willing to stand with us in recognising and supporting the needs of our community. I am delighted that she will be helping us to lead the march through Liverpool city centre, as she represents what we are all about – our LGBT community making a difference in our city and showing us off to the country.”
The Pride festival, now in it’s third year, will be spread across the Stanley Street gay quarter and Liverpool’s pier-head with an exciting “Nautical but Nice” theme. Performers include the X-Factor’s Marcus Collins as well as former Atomic Kitten, Liz McClarnon.
Liverpool Pride takes place on 4th August and is free to attend. For more details see the Liverpool Pride website www.liverpoolpride.co.uk
