Police chief to join Pride party

August 20, 2008

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Peter Fahy

THE new chief constable of Greater Manchester will be among 300 police officers joining in the party at the city's Pride festival this weekend.

Head of Cheshire police Peter Fahy, who will take over the top post with Greater Manchester's force later this year, will join the largest ever contingent of police officers to take part in a gay pride event when he helps celebrate the festival's 18th birthday on Saturday.

Officers and staff from 16 forces across the country will join the parade through Manchester city centre, leaving from the Museum of Science and Industry, in Castlefield, at 2pm.

GMP is one of the lead sponsors of this year's Pride celebrations.

The force's parade appearance has been organised by Police with Pride which consists of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender representatives from forces across the north west.

Sgt Julie Barnes-Frank, coordinator of GMP's Lesbian and Gay Staff Affiliation, said: "I am totally overwhelmed with the response we have had this year.

"It is fantastic that so many police officers and staff are taking part and it's a credit to them. Each year our presence gets bigger and bigger and this year it is true to say there's never been anything like it in the world."

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L L Fontelroy (20/08/2008 at 14:38)

Its a good job that our chief of police is attending a party in the centre of manchester, perhaps he could open a few garden fetes or car boot sales or even that hot bed of crime, the church jumble sale, get your priorities right Chief from the start.

drew-peacock (20/08/2008 at 15:10)

Well done to the Chief I say...Far cry from Jim Andertons "swimming in a cesspool of their own making" rubbish years ago.

Bean B4, manchester (20/08/2008 at 15:14)

Oh yes, he'll have to be seen doing his bit for multi-cultural, multi-sexual, multi blah blah Manchester. When he's finsihed politicking perhaps he could think about sorting out some of the scum we have wandering round.

the beer baron (20/08/2008 at 15:19)

Three hundred coppers in one place at the same time - would be music to my ears if I owned a chain of burger vans.

Manchestaman, saddleworth (20/08/2008 at 15:51)

"How reassuring to see that our new CC has got his priorities right" said the cynical citizen who's fed up of being burgled and a victim of crime.

Once again (20/08/2008 at 15:57)

"GMP is one of the lead sponsors of this year's Pride celebrations."

What lead sponsors and 300 officers to march, how do they justify this parade to celebrate someone sexuality, well sorry only one type of sexuality (I don't think there is a parade for being straight) when they say United cannot have a parade for actually acheiving something great. I just hate pollitical correctness. Their gay, so what, why do they always feel the need to let everyone know about it. Wouldn't mind as much if it wasn't at tax payers expense

Edna Of Hyde, Hyde (20/08/2008 at 16:06)

Its well time citizens realised that this concept of there being any kind of so called "gay village" in Manchester city centre is just a figment of their imagination. Look at any map of the area and nowhere will you find any kind of "village" and it's well time people realised the fact that a few drinking dens does not constitute any kind of village. Manchester is Britain's second city due to its heritage of business, industry, wholesaling, retailing and innovated architecture so wake up to the facts and lets move on with its further development as such. Real villages are made up of little ancient chapels, thatched cottages, brass adorned inns, well versed craftsmen, local craft shops, happy families, pony riders cantering around merrily and gaggles of geese waddling up the high street and not gregariously dressed drunks waddling from one drinking den to another bringing Manchester's reputation into disrepute with any visitors to the city.

MPs gravy train, UK (20/08/2008 at 16:47)

Some of the comments on here indicate why they still need to march - to stop prejudice.

I am neither gay or use the village but understand the real benefit that this area of Manchester brings to the city. Over the course of the year hundreds of thousands of gay people and their friends visit Manchester because if its village and reputation. They bring far more wealth and jobs to the bars, retaurants, shops and hotels than events such as the Labour Party conference that will cost us taxpayers millions to police.

Do we say "so what get over it" when Irish Catholics want to march through the city at taxpayers expense on St Patricks day? No of course not. Tolerance may just be acceptable in this day and age.

Felix, manchester uk (20/08/2008 at 17:30)

Not only gay men and women take part in Pride. Anyone who wants to show their relief and support that homosexual people can now get on with their lives without being imprisoned is welcome to come along. Greater Manchester police have worked incredibly hard over the last 20 years to understand that sexual preference is not a matter for criminalisation and that gay folk ARE taxpayers deserving of protection and respect like anybody else. I for one am thrilled that the Chief Constable will be marching alongside his colleagues at Pride and that gay and lesbian members of the police force will be marching openly, too, no longer in fear of losing their jobs if they reveal their home lives at work. Here's to a happy and safe Pride 2008!

Helzibob (20/08/2008 at 17:55)

Well said Felix.

V P of Manchester, Manchester (20/08/2008 at 18:21)

I find it strange that year on year this one aspect of what GMP do is always headline news, GMP do a lot for all aspects of society, and not just for gay people and their friends and family.

It is great that so many officers and staff take part in the parade, which can I also point out is all in their own time, so at no point are us tax payers paying anything, and as said why do people moan on about this parade and yet do not mind the number of other parades that go on in this city.

Any costs by the council are recouped by the 30 million which is made from this weekend for many businesses in Manchester.

By the way well done to the new chief and all the senior staff who have supported colleagues from all backgrounds for many years.

Fran M (Permissum Populus Constituo) (20/08/2008 at 18:32)

Frankly I couldn't care less what sexuality anyone has.

What does grate is the constant lectures from on high and from the homosexual lobby about diversity, tolerance, equality and the rest. As for equality, I have been down to the so called 'gay village' many times and some of the behaviour I have seen would provoke arrest for public indecency if seen elsewhere in the city. Are the laws different in the gay village?

Gay pride? What does that mean? Proud of what? Seems to me that the homosexual 'community' wish to point up any differences there are and add to the idea of separateness. So you're homosexual! I don't care.

As a heterosexual, should I be proud of being such? That's what I am, so what? Should I get some mates together and have a parade and get GMP to use taxpayers money to sponsor it.

Perhaps we should have a parade for people with a foot fetish, or a rubber fetish, or whatever. We could set up a village for people with fetishes.

Sexuality should be a private matter and not something to be displayed as part of a public novelty.

J.Hall, Tameside (20/08/2008 at 18:53)

Well what a great start to the Chief Constable`s reign.
Whilst they protect the leather clad exhibitionists flaunting themselves vocally and bodily to promote their sick perversions,how many old folk will be getting a battering for their purses.
This society is the pits now,
and the public has been stopped from venting their opinions by legal restraints,and a threat of imprisonment.Somehow Hitler and Stalin left a legacy which is now copied regarding freedom of speech.

MrPaul, Manchester (20/08/2008 at 20:07)

Well I for one say well done to the new chief of police. IT shows he is willing to come down and show support for the citizens in his city.

And as for the blatent homophobic, degrading and downright insulting comments relating to this coming weekend, all i can say is it proves we still have something to march for!

Joe King, Manchester (20/08/2008 at 20:40)

Probably the best place for them to be. Personally I prefer ladies, but there again I am a normal heterosexual like god intended.

V P of Manchester, Manchester (21/08/2008 at 00:41)

Is it not strange that people complain about this parade and try and put some of the blame on the Police. What people have to realise is that people are still constantly being beaten up and killed for being gay, like the 18 year old only this month in Liverpool.

I am proud to be a born and bred Mancunian and very proud that my Police force are always at the top of poles for supporting people from minority groups, and promote working for GMP to all sections of our society and not just during Pride.

Instead of constantly moaning about the Police, why do we not try and make this city a better place and actually support them and help them.

So in conclusion until minorities stop being attacked and killed, then all these groups will need a voice and I am sure that GMP and the new chief will be there to bring law and order to our great city.

Mr Angry, Bury (21/08/2008 at 08:47)

I dont understand why it is necessary to parade your sexuality through the streets in front of all and sundry.

If you are homosexual that is your own business, keep it to yourself.

If they are discreet about it I dont have a problem with it. I only object when it is flaunted in an "in your face" manner as appears to be the case with this.

Sexuality is a private thing, after all if you had a fetish, such as being tied up or whatever, you would'nt want to parade that in public, or would you?

Sorry, dont approve of this parade and think it should be stopped

Once again (21/08/2008 at 08:55)

V P of Manchester - "Any costs by the council are recouped by the 30 million which is made from this weekend for many businesses in Manchester"

Funny this because everybody was saying completely the opposite when Rangers came down. Everybody said the £25 million would just go into private buisnesses coffers and the council/taxpayer wouldn't see the money benefits. How is it now different?

Yes some people may have been beaten up for being gay, but people just like recently have been beaten up for not having a cigarette, but I don't plan to have a parade due to this.

TracyR, Manchester (21/08/2008 at 13:59)

Well, I've read lots of comments on this website over the years, but never once have I seen so much closed minded, homophobic nonsense in my life.
I'm not gay, but I will be down there this weekend having fun and supporting the right of those who are gay to openly be who they are.
This is supposed to be fun with a serious underlying message, but considering the majority of comments here, I may well have slipped back im time to the late seventies...

Mike S, Manchester (21/08/2008 at 14:07)

J Hall - "promote their sick perversions"

Joe King - "normal heterosexual like God intended"

Comments like this and some others below in themselves justify the need for the Pride Weekend.

As for the MEN - I'm all for free speech, but interesting that you're being far more relaxed on the censorship front for this and most other gay-related stories.

It's self-funding (although admittedly a rip-off with little money going to charity, hence why I'm avoiding it this year) and the officers are all off duty. Further, the majority of us gays are far less of a burden on the tax payer than straight people. No kids to drain public resources, child benefit, family credits and the like. If we were all straight the welfare system would be bust!

Bean B4, manchester (21/08/2008 at 14:17)

I hope it rains on their parade.

PW, Manchester (21/08/2008 at 14:18)

Well said Fran M. Sexuality is not really something you should be going on the streets to shout about. I don't care if someone is gay, as long as they are ok with me.

But I don't like those who have a bee in their bonnet about it. Just like the parody (Only gay in the village) in Little Britain, which I think is a very clever observation by an actor who is also gay.

Mr Angry, Bury (21/08/2008 at 15:10)

I'll tell you something else that makes me angry, the kind of liberal/pc censorship which the political elite impose where anyone who takes a contrary view from their agenda is immediately shouted down.

Anyone who is less than 100% supportive of this parade is accused immediately of being homophobic and bigoted.

If you take the trouble to properly read and digest the posts you will see that none of us actually want to repeal the Sexual Offences Act of 1967 and recriminalise hoomosexuality, we are of broadly the same opinion, if you are gay, so what? keep it to yourself and dont flaunt it in front of everyone

What is wrong with that?

I have worked with a man who was gay in our office, he was OK, I got on well with him, he did'nt make a big issue out of it, that is the way to acceptance, not flaunting it in front of everyone.

as a previous poster said, why not have a parade for everyone with a fetish then if that is the case.

One final point, Tracy whatever, if you are arranging a trip back to the late 70s, count me in, 1976 and 77 were the two best and happiest years of my life, I was 16/17 then, before I became Angry....

Bean B4, manchester (21/08/2008 at 15:16)

"if you are arranging a trip back to the late 70s, count me in, 1976 and 77 were the two best and happiest years of my life"

Ha ha, Mr A you're a comic. In those days, like now, we had the tail end (politely put) of a labour government bereft of ideas.

You were happy because you were a kid.

Thank goodness along came the Blessed Margaret and solved all our problems.

So don't be Angrrrry - cheer up. David Cameron is just around the corner to make it all ok again.

Hoorah!

L L Fontelroy (21/08/2008 at 15:32)

This story has been taken over by the gay argument whereas we should all be concentrating on the fact that Chief should be at Glossop Church Fete - the hot bed of crime in the countryside - as for the parade itself, who cares!

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