Ógra Shinn Féin support Belfast Gay Pride Parade 2010

Ógra Shinn Féin activists, and poll topping Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre DeBrun, joined with thousands to celebrate Saturday's very colourful and vibrant Gay Pride Parade in Belfast.

Saturday's pride parade, which is the biggest in Ireland, brought to a successful close, a wide range of events that demonstrate pride, but also aim to raise awareness and build respect and understanding of diversity, particularly for the LGBT community in Belfast.


The annual parade which makes its way from Custom House Square through the centre of Belfast was warmly greeted by thousands of shoppers on a busy summer Saturday, and Ógra Shinn Féin, the republican youth movement carried a banner that read 'Gay Rights are Human Rights - Respect Equality and Diversity!', throughout.

Speaking at the parade, Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson Barry McColgan said,

"Belfast Pride was one of the most colourful, vibrant and uplifting parades I have ever attended, you could feel the strong sense of community, and solidarity events like these give the LGBT community. It is of huge credit to the festival organisers. Republican's could learn alot from the very open, inclusive and participative carnival
atmosphere demonstrated at Ireland's biggest Pride Parade here in Belfast."

"It is important for republicans, young and old, gay and straight, to demonstrate their solidarity with the LGBT community throughout Ireland, and to promote the equality that we want to see as a cornerstone to a new Ireland. I believe our presence at this year's Belfast Pride was a welcome step and we were warmly greeted, but it is a challenge to us in the year's ahead to broaden and build our engagements, support and solidarity for the LGBT community. Let's make Pride 2011 even bigger and better!"