Posted on: Wednesday 19 July 2023
Yesterday, council members voted in favour of a motion to support local Pride initiatives which promote acceptance, equality and celebrate the work of LGBTQ+ people.
Hundreds of Pride events are held around the UK every year to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
Arrangements are now being made to hold the first ever Torfaen Pride in June next year.
In response to the motion, Equalities & Diversity Champion, Councillor Peter Jones, assured attendees that Council officers were already liaising with Club F.O.D, the charity proposing the event, to offer advice and guidance.
Speaking in the Council meeting, Councillor Jones highlighted the continuing relevance of Pride and the emergence of Pride events in neighbouring boroughs, saying: “I am concerned about the increasing levels of hate crime against LGBTQ people that we have seen over the last few years and the divisive and toxic online discourse around gender identity and see these new events as a sign that the LGBTQ+ community in Gwent believe their rights are under threat.
“These events are also about social inclusion, and I also recognise and value Club F.O.D’s mission to reduce social isolation within the community”.
Following the meeting, the Torfaen Pride Facebook page thanked Cllr. Davies for presenting the motion, adding “Visibility can literally save lives”.
Torfaen Council is a member of the Proud Councils network, a partnership of Councils in South Wales working together to support LGBTQ+ issues and actively champion LGBTQ+ inclusion.
To find out more about Torfaen Pride, including sponsorship or volunteering opportunities, please visit: https://www.torfaenpride.co.uk/