David Lepper

Labour Party | Brighton Pavilion

MP takes pride in Pride festival

Brighton Pavilion Labour and Co-operative MP David Lepper has welcomed the latest Pride festival this Saturday (August 7) as a celebration for gay and transgender people with a reminder of what Labour has done for the gay community since 1997.

David Lepper says:

‘Pride is just simply the best event of its kind in the country and means a great day out for everyone.

‘It’s a highlight of the year for so many and that’s why it attracted more than 90,000 last year. Each year it attracts more interest from the business community and it’s right that the city council and local companies should support it. In 2003 Pride raised almost £17,000 for the local lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community.‘

David Lepper adds:

‘Since 1997 the Labour Government has repealed Section 28, given same sex partners equal immigration rights, brought in an equal age of consent and new rights for transgender people.

‘We have also allowed same-sex couples to adopt jointly, lifted the ban on lesbians and gays in the armed forces, reformed the Sexual Offences Act so that it is gender and sexuality neutral and invested £1 million to fight homophobia.’

David Lepper says the Civil Partnership Bill to give new rights for same sex couples is now under threat from Conservatives in the Lords, which is why on Saturday the Labour party stall will display a ballot box inviting people to show their support.

‘We want to set up an Equalities and Human Rights Commission to promote and defend the rights of the LGBT communities and a Single Equalities Act,’ says David Lepper. ‘But the Conservatives in the Commons and the Lords have tried to water down our reforms at every step.’

David Lepper;

• as a councillor in the 1980s spoke out against Section 28
  
• as an MP worked with Stonewall on repeal and an equal age of consent, speaking at public meetings in London and Brighton
  
• as an MP was a member of the committee dealing with the Local Government Bill 2003 which scrapped Section 28 and spoke out in Parliament for repeal
  
• in 2001 went with a delegation of transgender people to lobby ministers for the legal changes now given new rights through the Gender Recognition Act
  
• helped last month with the launch of Brighton and Hove Council’s partnership register waiting list at Brighton Town Hall.