Pride in Luton, the LGBTQ+ charity which has organised the annual Pride event in the town since 2022, has announced a banner promoting this weekend’s upcoming Pride festival has been destroyed for the third time.
Rosie Besnu and Jess Bryce, co-chairs of the charity, said in a statement it has made them “more defiant and determined than ever” ahead of Saturday’s event in the town.
Trustee Scott Griffwood added: “It’s frustrating because it means we’ve had to use more charity funding on that than support services that can save people’s lives. It’s diverting funding away.
“There may be people who are not out who see this and feel not part of the community. They might have concerns or worries, but our message is clear: Be loud, be proud, and be unapologetically you.”
Scott stressed that this year’s Pride in Luton will be a safe and inclusive event, adding: “It’s made us as a community more defiant, more determined, to make sure the event is safe successful, louder bigger and more fabulous than it was ever planned
“We’re not going to let people win or try and intimidate us
“The love we received from all walks off life has been brilliant. People are getting the message this isn’t right and isn’t on.”
