RECLAIM THE SCENE: (OUT OF THE) VILLAGE FETE
On Saturday the 28th of August, Reclaim the Scene will be hosting a free alternative Pride event, just outside of Manchester’s “gay village” to tackle the commercialisation of Manchester Pride. The event will run from 2-9pm at UMIST campus off Sackville Street, and will include performers, music, free food, political stalls, kids entertainment and much more.
“Reclaim The Scene” is a collective of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans (LGBT) and queer individuals in Manchester and Salford that want Pride to be free, the village to be inclusive and LGBT and queer rights to be at the top of the agenda. The group was created is in response to a Pride weekend that is rapidly being depoliticised and sees “the village” annually fenced off to anyone that doesn't own a wristband, the price of which has steadily gone up over the years. The Reclaim The Scene group argue that this causes social exclusion, to all those who can’t afford the price.
Their concerns are echoed by others as well; Manchester Pride’s charitable status has been questioned as only 12% of the event's proceeds went to charity in 2007, and less than 1% went to organisations other than the Lesbian and Gay Foundation and the George House Trust. In 2008, Phil Burke, the Village Business Chair, resigned from his post saying the event is “run by dictators” and “is just about making money”. Reclaim the Scene also supported by the National Union of Students' LGBT Campaign, UNISON, Britain's largest public sector trade union and the Queer Youth Network.
The group is re-politicising Pride and argues that the way forward is “a community-based scene that welcomes all LGBTQ people and provides spaces appropriate to them”. Jennie O'Hara, a key organiser within the group, states “we do not have equality, never mind liberation! Let's celebrate what we have achieved so far and get more people involved in our future and current struggles” demanding that future Pride weekends should include a march with free entry (currently even charities have to pay to participate) and that the majority of the proceeds should go to funding LGBT charities and community groups, not businesses.
The (Out Of The) Village Fete will take place directly after the Parade (where the group will be marching under the banner “Pride is a Protest”) and will include a range of performers from Manchester’s own Rock It Bellydance to acoustic sessions from Ash Jones, via some expert DJ-ing from the likes of Laura Newington and Scally Dan Dan.
ENDS
For more information see: http://www.ReclaimTheScene.com.
For further press enquiries contact Alan Bailey: alan.bailey@nus.org.uk or 07919323936.
Reclaim the scene is a coalition of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans) and queer individuals. We have three main aims:
- Pride should be free
- LGBT and queer rights should be at the top of the agenda
- The ‘village’ should be welcoming, inclusive and accessible.
