6. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:59 pm on 29 June 2021.

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Photo of Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn Labour 4:59, 29 June 2021

I thank the Member for her contribution, and I know you've got a proven record in the past as a committed ally to the LGBTQ+ community and thank you for everything that you've done. In terms of the question you make around Pride, Pride has changed significantly in the 50 years since we saw the first Pride march, and it's really important that, particularly, younger people don't feel priced out of Pride. And so, I think—. Pride, as we said, was born out of protest, and actually the support for grass-roots Pride is about recognition that it's a movement to support communities and support people in communities right across Wales. 

In terms of the funding for supporting Prides right across Wales, this will be part of the LGBTQ+ action plan and be linked to future equality and inclusion funding, and I'd be keen to talk to different organisations and grass-roots organisations, Prides, to see what best would help them in terms of being able to take that forward. Because, as someone—. You talk about the value of these events in communities, and it's fantastic to see our capital city celebrating Pride, but I think you can't underestimate the impact it makes on smaller communities, rural communities, right across the country in telling people there's a safe space for them and to belong. Because, speaking personally, I've been to Cardiff Pride, I've been to London Pride, Swansea Pride, even Doncaster Pride, but none really made me as emotional as when I took part in a Pride parade through the town where I now live, where I got the bus to as a teenager to go shopping. It is a market town, a small market town, on market day, and just to see people who were just going about their normal business, doing their shopping, stopping with their children to clap and join in was something I could never imagine, and I know many others couldn't, years ago. And I think that's a recognition of how far we've come but also not to be complacent and realise there's still work to do, which this Government's very much committed to continuing.