June 8, 2009
U.K.: Will Doncaster Suffer for Electing Homophobic (& Xenophobic) Mayor?
Frankly, the only reason we know Doncaster even exists is its annual Pride fest — so we figured it would be, you know, a cool place to visit someday. But now, not so much:
New mayor of Doncaster cuts funding for Pride The newly-elected mayor of Doncaster has vowed to cut funding for the town’s annual gay Pride event.
Peter Davies, an English Democrat, has said: “My policy on gays and lesbians is very simple.
“I don’t think councils should be spending money on them parading through town advertising their sexuality.”
Davies, a retired politics and RE teacher, has also promised to end council spending on “politically correct” issues and plans to cut his mayor’s salary by £32,000 to £62,000. …
Davies added: “I have nothing whatsoever against gays and lesbians, what they do in their private lives is absolutely fine. But I don’t see why councils should be spending money on that sort of thing.”
Doncaster Pride have said they are disappointed at the result of the election but added the show will go on.
A statement from the organisation said: “We believe everyone has a right to their opinion and if the newly-elected mayor of Doncaster holds personal opinions about the staging of a Pride event in the borough we feel he is entitled to that view.
“However, in the last two years we have brought over 6,000 visitors into Doncaster and anticipate an audience this year of up to 8,000. These people spend money in Doncaster and come to enjoy a great day out. We believe Doncaster Pride puts Doncaster on the map for all the right reasons and have had visitors coming in from across the UK and farther afield who may never have visited the town if it were not for Pride.” …
The English Democrats advocate an end to multiculturalism and political correctness and call for withdrawal from the European Union.
What the hell were the people of Doncaster thinking when they sided with these right-wing loons? Can anybody across the pond share some insight?
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Filed Under: Events, Homophobia, United Kingdom & N.I.
