Mersey Fire & Rescue withdraw support for Pride events

[sandgreen]

Interesting development that is apparently down to a High Court ruling about impartiality that they can’t seem to figure out but are taking legal advice on. It’s saddening, reports the Echo, particularly at this time of year, natch.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/merseyside-fire-rescue-service-withdraws-34139049

This has been covered with another area on a thread about a month ago.

It's not sad at all.

Pride is now openly homophobic, denying same sex body attraction. Many gay people are very unhappy to be linked with Pride.

In that situation, there is no place for organisations which serve all members of the community to take part in uniform in a parade or paint service vehicles, be it Pride or Palestine Action.

I’ll check for that thread thanks as this ruling seemed to pass me by. I don’t disagree with you, by the way!

The Echo is framing this as an attack on the community when, as so often is the case, it is no such thing. And ‘particularly at this time of year’ as if it’s some kind of sacred holiday is ridiculous.

The ruling was a Judicial Review in 2025, if I remember right, which established that the Police should not be joining in carnivals like Notting Hill, but should be policing them without fear or favour.

It followed that if it applies to the Police it applies to all uniformed public services but the case itself was about the Police.

People can still attend out of uniform.

Thanks for sharing OP. I hate being pleased that organisations like the police and fire brigades aren't taking part in Pride. I used to think that it was good LGB people who are staff members could demonstrate that there are LGB people in all walks of life. However, the politicisation of Pride and it's links to the destruction of women's rights in the name of trans has made me feel very differently. Lesbians have been told they aren't welcome at some Pride events because they don't believe men can be lesbians and there are all kinds of examples that it is now both political and a safeguarding nightmare.