Pride chiefs say council funding ban sends message

Council funding cuts have made "absolutely" no difference to the staging of a city's upcoming Pride celebration but instead sent a message the event is not welcome, organisers have said.

Durham County Council's Corporate Affairs department had previously contributed £2,500 to Pride but announced in August it would stop the payments and divert the money to key services instead.

Durham Pride chair Mel Metcalf said they would not in any case have accepted money from the Reform-run local authority because of the party's stance on trans issues.

A council spokesperson said requests for event support were "carefully considered" against the policies and priorities of the council.

"The council has, historically, supported a range of festivals and events that support our communities and bring economic benefits to the county," they said.

"All requests for assistance are carefully considered on a case-by-case basis against the policy objectives and priorities of the council."

Durham will hold its annual Pride at the end of the month, with up to 6,000 expected at the parade on 30 May at Palace Green.

Metcalf said LGBT+ people in Durham felt "a bit isolated now", but there was a mood of defiance.

"The £2,500 was never really the issue, it was the message they were sending to us and a year on they're still sending that same message that Pride isn't welcome in Durham, which is a shame," he said.

"If they think the two and a half thousand pounds is going to fill many potholes or stop the boats or whatever else that two and a half thousand pounds has been diverted to, I think they're mistaken."

Durham Pride has received a council contribution since at least 2016, while last year its festivals team also gave £10,000.

Historically, councillors have supported the event through their individual budgets as well.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has teamed up with Durham Pride to fundraise for future events, amassing more than £15,000.

North East, Yorkshire and Humber regional secretary Dave Pike said the funding cut sent a "devastating" message to the LGBT+ community, but he has a renewed confidence for the future of Durham Pride.

"If you'd asked me that earlier this year I would have been less so because I know how much that funding mattered to the long-term prosperity of Durham Pride and the long-term future of it.

"But for the future of it now, with a basis in the community and the support the trade union movement I'm very confident that Durham Pride is going to keep happening every year, despite the criticism and the attacks of Reform councillors at Durham Council."

Darren Grimes, Durham County Council's deputy leader, had criticised the event in a post on X last year, arguing it had "stopped being a celebration of gay rights a long time ago".

He said it had "morphed into a travelling billboard for gender ideology and political activism that many in the gay community - myself included - want no part of".

While adding the event "can and will go ahead safely", he wrote: "Durham County Council isn't an ATM for contested causes.

"Our residents deserve bins emptied, roads fixed, and services funded - not more council-sponsored politics in fancy dress."

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