Mayor's best wishes to Pride participants

Mayor McClintock’s message was presented in the Foyle Pride 2016 programme ahead of the festival.

She said: “As Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council I would like to welcome you all to another Foyle Pride Festival.

“Building on the success of recent years the 2016 festival promises to be a mixture of music, craic and of course, serious debate. I wish the organisers and participants all the very best.”

Award winning gay rights activist and Foyle Pride veteran Sha Gillespie meanwhile has spoken of the evolution of the gay rights movement locally.

Writing for the programme, Sha Gillespie said: “I have been involved with Foyle Pride for many years and so proud to be a part of the first pride parade in the city.

“I have seen it grow from strength to strength.It is a credit to all those involved that Foyle Pride remains true to the principles of the wider LGBTQ campaign for full equality and civil, social and human rights.

“This year we remember those less fortunate than ourselves in places as diverse as Uganda, Russia, Pakistan, Iran and indeed Orlando, Florida. We remain committed to campaigning on their behalf.”

Ms Gillespie said that while the battle for marriage equality went on in the north, she was confident of victory “in the near future”.