Pink power ready to kick out homophobia

OLDHAMERS will be reaching for the sky in a bid to kick homophobia out of the borough.

The town’s annual Pride festival will take place on Saturday (noon-4pm) at Gallery Oldham.

The event has been organised by the Oldham Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Forum under the theme of “Flights of Fancy — A Way with the Fairies”.

Revellers are invited to don their finest fancy dress for the Flights of Fancy Pride Parade which promises to be a vibrant, colourful and noisy procession, with birds of prey and plane crews.

The parade, which will start in the town centre and work its way to Gallery Oldham, will be launched by civic leaders as well as the pink carnival owl.

As well as celebrating the local LGBT community and diversity in the town, a campaign will be launched to kick homophobia out of Oldham.

There will be live music in the Fairy Gardens from Geek Girl, Claire Mooney, Performance Plaza, Cavali and Hazell Dean. The day will be hosted by Jonathan Mayor and vampire queen Rosie Lugosi.

Urban Moves International Dance Festival will present the stunning outdoor show Bluebird featuring Australian performer Liz Lea who mixes everything from baroque to breakdown in an amazing piece of music and movement.

The day will also feature plenty of Fairy Ground activities with make-and-do attractions and circus skills as well as information stalls from a range of supporting organisations and sporting demonstrations.

Following their involvement in the first gay Rugby League event in May — where they took on Manchester’s gay Rugby Union team Village Spartans — Oldham Roughyeds will also be soaking up the atmosphere at the festival.

Representatives from Oldham Athletic will also lend their support to the Kicking Homophobia Out of Oldham campaign that challenges stereotypes across sport.

There will also be an opportunity for members of Oldham’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities to tell their stories by signing up to the Oldham LGBT archive project being launched at Oldham Pride.

The Youth Service is working closely with young people in Oldham and will be presenting their “Big Brother” play which challenges the negative use of the word “gay”.

For more information on all the Oldham Pride 08 activities, ring 0161-770 3097 or send an e-mail to oldhamlgbtforum@oldham.gov.uk