The organisers of Belfast Pride have become the latest to announce a ban on Executive parties from participating in this summers Pride Parade.
While other pride organisations in Northern Ireland have banned Executive parties from attending all of their events in an official capacity, the statement issued this afternoon by Belfast Pride makes reference only to the Pride Parade and not other events held during the festival week, including the annual Pride Talks Back debate.
Following the decision of a number of other pride organisations in Northern Ireland to ban the Executive parties from events after the decision was taken to ban the use of puberty blockers for people experiencing gender dysphoria and incongruence in Northern Ireland, Belfast Pride undertook a series of public consultation exercises on proposals to introduce similar measures.
In a lengthy statement posted on their social media pages, Belfast Pride said: "Following our community consultation, Belfast Pride has decided that we will not be accepting applications from those political parties involved in the decision to ban puberty blockers in Northern Ireland to register for the Belfast Pride parade. Belfast Pride is deeply concerned about the impact this decision has had, and will have, on trans young people.
"We would like to thank all the LGBTQIA+ people and allies who responded to our survey and attended our consultation events. We recognise that there are diverse opinions on the involvement of political parties in Belfast Pride, and that some LGBTQIA+ people will be unhappy with this decision. We commit to developing a framework for political party representation at future Pride parades in consultation with our community.
"What has been almost universal is the anger and frustration expressed at the decision to ban puberty blockers in Northern Ireland and the poor communication and consultation surrounding this decision.
"For at least a decade concerns about the failures in trans healthcare have been expressed to political panels at Belfast Pride and by our partners in the LGBTQIA+ sector. Despite this, no meaningful action to improve these services has been undertaken or plan developed - other than to remove one of the limited services available. We call on all parties to publish their position on the wider trans healthcare agenda, to which they can be held to account, and to make meaningful efforts to address the systematic failures in these services.
Organisers of Belfast Pride added that they are "extremely disappointed" that the recently published Programme for Government does not mention LGBTQIA+ people.
"We call on the Northern Ireland Executive to recognise their failures to address the inequalities experienced by our community and take action to remedy this as a matter of urgency," the continued.
"We call on all our political allies to recognise the genuine concern felt across our community. We are living in unprecedented times where our hard-won rights are once again under threat. We call on all political parties to take meaningful action to address the inequalities still experienced by our community."
Speaking in response to the Belfast Pride decision Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the decision was "extremely disappointing" and described it as a "backwards step".
"Sinn Féin is determined to deliver equality, respect and inclusion for all our citizens and we will always be strong allies of the LGBTQIA+ community," she said.
"It is deeply disappointing that Belfast Pride has taken the decision to exclude all Executive parties from this year's Pride Parade.
"Sinn Féin has long been a vocal ally of the LGBTQIA+ community campaigning in support of campaigns like marriage equality.
"As one of her first actions as Minister for Health Michelle O'Neill ended the lifetime ban on gay men donating blood.
"Pride has always been an inclusive event welcoming people from all backgrounds to participate and celebrate LGBTQIA+ people.
"Today's decision to exclude political allies from Pride is, unfortunately, a backwards step.
"While we fully respect the right of the organisers to take this decision, we believe this is a missed opportunity to once again stand together to confront those whose agenda has been, and continues to be, to marginalise, undermine and divide supporters of LGBTQIA+ Rights."
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