Phil Webb, who was outed as gay while serving as mayor of Wimborne Minster more than three decades ago, is now organising the town's first Pride celebration. The 67-year-old, who was mayor in 1994, said the event means a lot to the LGBTQ+ community and that Wimborne, with a population of 11,411, is ready for such recognition.
Mr Webb's mayoral election became national news after he was outed by councillors in the Bournemouth Echo. The News of the World ran the headline 'Mr Mayor Wants It Both Ways', while The Independent described him as 'the man who brought sex, drugs and rock'n'roll' to the town. Despite the initial difficulty, Mr Webb said his parents supported him, and he now finds the situation amusing.
Following his outing, Mr Webb said he felt a step backwards but that it ultimately advanced LGBTQ+ rights in Wimborne. He went on to have a career in children's social care and met his partner David in 1998, forming a civil partnership that lasted 22 years until David's death five years ago.
The idea for a Wimborne Pride came from town crier and councillor Chris Brown, who told Mr Webb: 'You're the bloke to do it.' A grant of £650 has been secured to kick-start the movement, with plans for a dedicated event on the local green rather than a large march. Mr Webb has also arranged for the Pride movement to join the local folk festival parade in June.
The planning has not been without controversy. Two men from a local church attended a consultation meeting and suggested it might be inappropriate for sexual or gender orientations to be included in the folk festival parade. Mr Webb welcomed the dissent, noting that it highlighted the need for Pride, especially after a woman shared that her trans son had been spat on in Wimborne.
