Newcastle City Council has vowed to stand proudly alongside Tyneside’s LGBT+ community. The Pride flag was raised outside the Civic Centre on Thursday to mark Pride Month, as the city’s leaders vowed to “celebrate inclusion openly and with pride”.
It comes after Sunderland and Gateshead councils, both under new Reform UK leadership, both refused to fly the rainbow flag. After lord mayor Henry Gallagher raised the flag yesterday, Newcastle City Council said it wanted to “send a clear message that Newcastle is a friendly, inclusive city that truly values the diversity of our communities”.
A Lib Dem minority administration is now running the city council, with the support of the Greens, after Labour was removed from power at May’s local elections. Coun Rob Austen, the Lib Dems’ new cabinet member for culture, communities, and youth services, said: “Newcastle is an inclusive, vibrant and friendly city that takes great pride in the diversity of our communities. We are committed to making sure everyone who lives in, works in or visits our city feels respected, safe and valued, regardless of their background or identity.
“Flying the Pride flag during Pride Month is a clear and positive reflection of those values. It is a simple but powerful symbol of our ongoing commitment to equality, respect and fairness and a visible sign of support for our LGBT+ community. For many residents seeing the Pride Flag flying helps foster a sense of belonging and demonstrates that Newcastle is a place where diversity is not only accepted but celebrated.
“We recognise that other councils make different choices but in Newcastle we believe in championing inclusion openly and with pride. Supporting Pride Month is part of our work to tackle all inequality, challenge discrimination and build stronger, more connected communities. We will continue to stand with our residents to celebrate everything and everyone that makes Newcastle a welcoming and dynamic city where everyone is encouraged to be themselves and to play a full part in civic life.”
Last week, Gateshead Council’s Reform leadership said it had "no problem" with anyone supporting Pride but it was "not a matter for this administration or council". Council leader Nick Allan, confirming that his administration would also pull funding for future Pride events, said: "We will not actively support, fund, or promote socio-political radical action or pressure groups, no matter where they sit on the political spectrum. We as a group have no compunction, no problem, with any individual supporting Pride, but the finance of Pride and the celebration of Pride is not a matter for this administration or council, it is a matter for those groups alone."
Reform councillors in Sunderland also announced last month that they will “never” fly the Pride flag outside City Hall.
Peter Darrant, CEO of leading LGBT+ charity OUT North East, said Pride was “not just about celebrating – it plays an important role in fostering understanding and tolerance as well as educating people”. He said that the Reform-led councils’ decisions were made “without any real understanding of the benefits to the community and the local economy Pride brings”.
