Pride cannot return to Paradise (From The Oxford Times)
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Pride cannot return to Paradise
6:00pm Tuesday 24th April 2012 in Oxford
By Damian Fantato, covering Summertown, Jericho and North Oxford. Call me on 01865 425429
Oxford Pride's parade in 2010
THERE will be no return to paradise for Oxford’s biggest LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) event.
Oxford Pride had hoped to take its party back to Paradise Street this year, where the original Pride was held, to celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary.
But city council regulations mean this year’s Wizard of Oz-themed event will have to stay in Oxpens Fields, near the ice rink.
Rafe Jeune, the chair of Oxford Pride, said: “It is a shame but I understand that the city council has its own obligations to fulfill.
“But I am looking forward to this year’s Oxford Pride. It will be a great celebration.”
Mr Jeune said council officers were concerned that closing Paradise Street might mean more traffic through the bus gate in Castle Street.
The first Oxford Pride event in 2002 saw a party in Paradise Street and the surrounding area to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee but it has since expanded, attracting up to 5,000 people each summer.
Mr Jeune said: “Everyone is welcome to come. Our message is about being inclusive. Everything that has been achieved in gay rights is because the straight majority has supported us.
“We wouldn’t be in the position we are today if we didn’t have their help.”
Oxford Pride will take place from Friday, June 8, to Sunday, June 17, with the main parade on Saturday, June 16.
The festival will include art exhibitions, a dog show, karaoke and a history walk.
The event will be opened by the Lord Mayor of Oxford Elise Benjamin. Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, a patron of Oxford Pride, will speak at the event.
Comments(20)
Quentin Walker
says...
9:57am Wed 25 Apr 12
King Joke
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11:03am Wed 25 Apr 12
Quentin Walker
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11:07am Wed 25 Apr 12
King Joke wrote:You are being deliberately disingenuous. They wouldn't do so dressed in wacky outfits and a band playing.
Quentin, anyone who walks along the street holding hands with their wife, girlfriend or children is pursuing their orientation in public. Would you prefer this was stopped as well?
King Joke
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11:09am Wed 25 Apr 12
natox78
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11:10am Wed 25 Apr 12
Dr bob is my hero
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5:36pm Wed 25 Apr 12
King Joke
says...
6:14pm Wed 25 Apr 12
wizardofox2
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8:33pm Wed 25 Apr 12
L0RD PETER MCVEY 0X2 6EG
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8:36pm Wed 25 Apr 12
King Joke wrote:So do you think that a road would be closed for a march by the English 1600 reformation party and all that it stands for. Bob has it right. If they want a party good on them, but why should a christian society allow something that goes against it's teachings be so upfront and possibly influence our god fearing children, I.E. Daddy what do those two women do to eachother, and daddy why has that man got his hand in that other mans pocket?
Pride are as entitled as anyone else to close a road, the Sally Army, animal rights, Race for Life etc etc, as long as they go through the correct procedures.
King Joke
says...
9:38pm Wed 25 Apr 12
McVey, if the 1600-or whoever they wer applied for a road closure they'd probably get one. We're not a Christian society per se, religious belief is a matter of personal choice. Not all our children are God-fearing and I don't suppose many children would be permanently traumatised by two men holding hands.
Boo.boo
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12:29am Thu 26 Apr 12
com/oxfordpride
They can't even agree among themselves.
wizardofox2
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7:39am Thu 26 Apr 12
Tell me King Joke how would you explain it?
King Joke
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8:24am Thu 26 Apr 12
wizardofox2
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8:39am Thu 26 Apr 12
Headington_angel
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11:05am Thu 26 Apr 12
wizardofox2 wrote:Why is two men kissing the street not normal...two women come to that. some of the comments discust me made here. gay people, are no different from straight people, they deserve the same rights!!!. as for the child issue. I myself look after my friends cousins on a regular basis, I am gay. I have no shame, and no i am not ''CRB'' checked!! they ask me cos they trust me whether i am gay or not!!!. I would love to hold my partners hand whilst walking in the street, but i wont for fear of abuse or being threatened. Gay Pride is about realising that despite your orientation, we are all human and should respect each other as equals. Just because your sexuality is not deemed ''normal'' should not be a reason to have anyone as a person deemed incorrect or immoral. it is a celebration as to how far the world has come when years ago, some may not have left their houses in fear. is that a right way to live???.... no it is not. it is not pushing it in peoples faces, it is educating people to the fact gay,lesbian,transgen
No, this was pure exhibitionism and please don't try and convince me that two men kissing is perfectly normal? as a "normal" hetrosexual I find the thought of it quite repulsive !
der...do exist and it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Headington_angel
says...
11:31am Thu 26 Apr 12
L0RD PETER MCVEY 0X2 6EG wrote:This comment really does make me sad. what has religion got to do with it?. religion is a personal choice. If i had children, and they asked such a question, i would explain... ''it is because they love each other'' you make it sound like a sexual encounter...not the fact that men and women walk in the street with hands in each others pockets...and lets be realistic. why would a child ask ''what do them women do to each other'' maybe the children are better educated than the parents sometimes. at least they have not got their heads in the clouds...but instead have more acceptance. do we live in a christian society??? i always thought cristianity was about trust, forgiveness, love, maybe i am wrong....explain??
King Joke wrote:So do you think that a road would be closed for a march by the English 1600 reformation party and all that it stands for. Bob has it right. If they want a party good on them, but why should a christian society allow something that goes against it's teachings be so upfront and possibly influence our god fearing children, I.E. Daddy what do those two women do to eachother, and daddy why has that man got his hand in that other mans pocket?
Pride are as entitled as anyone else to close a road, the Sally Army, animal rights, Race for Life etc etc, as long as they go through the correct procedures.
L0RD PETER MCVEY 0X2 6EG
says...
1:59pm Thu 26 Apr 12
Headington_angel wrote:To be honest I couldn't care less, but Billy Whizz2 make a salient point about exhibitionism. It is that, I think, that upsets people the most. P.S. I am tending to lean towards Buddhism myself, these days.
L0RD PETER MCVEY 0X2 6EG wrote:This comment really does make me sad. what has religion got to do with it?. religion is a personal choice. If i had children, and they asked such a question, i would explain... ''it is because they love each other'' you make it sound like a sexual encounter...not the fact that men and women walk in the street with hands in each others pockets...and lets be realistic. why would a child ask ''what do them women do to each other'' maybe the children are better educated than the parents sometimes. at least they have not got their heads in the clouds...but instead have more acceptance. do we live in a christian society??? i always thought cristianity was about trust, forgiveness, love, maybe i am wrong....explain??
King Joke wrote:So do you think that a road would be closed for a march by the English 1600 reformation party and all that it stands for. Bob has it right. If they want a party good on them, but why should a christian society allow something that goes against it's teachings be so upfront and possibly influence our god fearing children, I.E. Daddy what do those two women do to eachother, and daddy why has that man got his hand in that other mans pocket?
Pride are as entitled as anyone else to close a road, the Sally Army, animal rights, Race for Life etc etc, as long as they go through the correct procedures.
King Joke
says...
2:57pm Thu 26 Apr 12
natox78
says...
3:04pm Thu 26 Apr 12
Lord Palmerstone says...
7:45am Wed 25 Apr 12