Jul 07 - Gibraltar Pride 2014 Is “Ready To Go”
The Head of the Gibraltar Pride Planning Committee, Donahue Cortes, today expressed ‘excitement’ with the arrangements in place for the official community-wide Pride event being held this year.
‘It’s been 9 months since the Equality Rights Group asked me to head the planning and organise an independent Committee for Pride 2014. There’s been a great deal of work that has had to go into this, with everyone pulling together and really looking forward to it. In all fairness, historically, the very first Pride event was held last year. It was an event organised at short notice by the Equality Rights Group and hosted by local events group OMI. The party that resulted was both a success and a testing ground for ERG’s ‘We Are One’ concept which this year has grown into a larger event with the full support of Government and sectors across Gibraltar. The events all aim to celebrate diversity and equality in our community and we are confident this can now become an annual event. For this year, the weekend starts with a focus on people’s outlook on disabilities.’
‘This Friday 11 July at 10pm we have famous UK comedian Francesca Martinez at the Sunborn Hotel with her “What the **** is Normal” show. Francesca, well known for her acting and disability rights campaigning, will also be hosting a question and answer session after her show. The Sunborn Management have been marvellous, making the venue available free of charge. Tickets have been distributed from the Tourist Office at Casemates and the response has been phenomenal. Entrance is by free ticket, so we advise people to move quickly if they want a chance to see Francesca.
‘On Saturday 12 July the main event happens. Individuals and representative groups, along with the Unions and community groups will congregate by the Piazza at 7-7.30pm. They will then parade down Main Street down to Casemates, where VIPs will be seated to welcome the Parade. The Parade will be accompanied by a marching band all the way through. And, on arrival, the Diversity Flag will be presented and carried to the stage, where the First Summer Night will begin, with acts and music of various kinds. The aim is fun, colour and enjoyment for all.
‘In the evening an After Pride event is being held by OMI at Dusk, Ocean Village, starting at 23:30 after Summer Nights with acts and music planned until the early hours of the morning.
‘This is a people’s event. The emphasis is on togetherness. The slogan is ‘We Are One’. We want to celebrate greater togetherness. It is an inclusive occasion, not an opportunity for exclusion of any sector. We have openly invited participation from all the community through public and private notifications on social and other media. We want Gibraltar on the map as an example of a community that co-exists with strong ties and solidarity and our events will be about inclusion - hence our slogan ‘We Are One’.
‘All in all,’ Mr Cortes ended, ‘whilst there are always last-minute touches, after so much work has gone into planning and organising, all the indications already are that this will be not only a fun event, but a history-making one for Gibraltar. And in that spirit of peace and togetherness, it will also be a successful one all round.’
