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Tag: Cornwall Pride

All the latest breaking news on Cornwall Pride. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Cornwall Pride.

  • Cornwall Pride pens open letter to MPs about the Gender Recognition Act

    Cornwall Pride pens open letter to MPs about the Gender Recognition Act

    Cornwall Pride wrote to all of the UK’s MPs to express concerns over the Gender Recognition Act and the delays to “gay cures” in the UK.

    “Very concerned over backtracking on trans rights”.

    The team that runs Cornwall’s only Pride event, Cornwall Pride has written to all of the UK’s MPs to outline their concerns about backtracking on transgender rights in the UK.

    They also criticised the Government for “failing in its commitment to formally respond to the Gender Recognition Act consultation by repeatedly delaying publication of the review”

    It continued,

    “However, we are also disappointed to see the leaks of selected sections of the report without proper communication by the Government. This has caused significant distress and anxiety among trans people and wider LGBT+ communities here in Cornwall and the UK. We believe trans women are women, trans men are men and non- binary identities are valid.

    “We, therefore, state our support for trans people’s right to self-identification.”

    As it stands,to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) in the UK, transgender people require a medical diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria, implying that being transgender is a mental illness – a view not recognised by the World Health Organisation.

    “They must also live in their “acquired” gender for a minimum of 2 years and must pay a fee of £140.

    Cornwall Pride adds, “The Government’s own research acknowledges that this process is bureaucratic, expensive, and humiliating for many transgender people. We believe the Government should respect the consultation, demonstrate a consideration for transgender people’s safety and dignity, and continue to explore ways of reforming the GRA”.

    “Perturbed to restrict trans women’s access to services and facilities”

    The letter also states,

    “We are particularly perturbed by the reported proposals to not only scrap any reform to the GRA, but to restrict trans women’s access to services and facilities in the guise of “safeguarding” safe spaces for cisgender women. One of our supporters has worked in the Violence Against Women and Girls sector, including in a refuge, for more than 13 years and believes such restrictions for trans women are unnecessary and unethical.

    “We will be dismayed if the rights of transgender people, both with and without a GRC, are dismantled to appease a “vocal few”.

    Read the full letter here.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/741984136331178/permalink/829857034210554/
  • The UK’s biggest Pride flag used to celebrate the UK’s key workers

    The UK’s biggest Pride flag used to celebrate the UK’s key workers

    The iconic rainbow flag has become the symbol of hope once again, this time it’s in the battle against coronavirus.

    One Pride team from Cornwall Pride have found a way to utilize their very own rainbow flag, the biggest in the UK in an amazing tribute to all key workers in the UK.

    Ensuring social distancing, the team from Cornwall Pride including artist, Pat Fete, used Cornwall’s biggest canvas, Towan Beach, and the UK’s biggest pride flag, to write a special message to all key workers across the UK.

    Matthew Kenworthy Gomes, from Cornwall Pride, told THEGAYUK, “It is our way to show support from Cornwall Pride as we have an amazing rainbow flag and its one of the largest in the UK. So sharing it right now, saying “thank you” as a community rainbow is the most important thing we can do. To bring people together with an image of hope and love.

    “With support from Team Newquay and the local Police Diversity Team to share it in solidarity with NHS and all key workers. Again to truly say a HUGE thank you to everyone for everything’.

    Perfect way to say ‘thank you’

    Jon Goodman, from Team Newquay, said, “This is a perfect way for Newquay to say “Thank You” ….a rainbow on a beach!

    “I was asked to help put it together and this is something you just can’t say no too, my daughter is a keyworker and I have friends that are carers and work in the NHS, I and all are full of pride for them all.”

    The whole project took a little over 2 hours and four people all following social distancing and washing hands when changing equipment. Two for the flag, one artist, one photographer.

  • Cornwall Pride organisers baked nekkid for charity

    Cornwall Pride organisers baked nekkid for charity

    Husbands Matthew and Nathaniel Kenworthy-Gomes went nude (almost) on a marathon baking session on Facebook live yesterday night to raise money for Cornwall Hospice Care.

    The hunky duo, who are usually behind the scenes preparing to stage Cornwall’s only Pride, garnered thousands of viewers and hundreds of comments and likes from friends and fans who cheered the couple on as they attempted to cook the perfect cake.

    The plan was to go completely nude, but anyone who knows about Facebook’s nudity policy will know the pair would have been knocked off the platform very quickly if they had actually bared butt.

    However there was still plenty on show for thirsty fans of the couple.

    Matthew and Nathaniel, who run Cornwall Pride are trying to raise £1000 for the Cornwall Hospice Care (click here to donate) and currently have raised nearly a third of their target.

    Cornwall-Pride-husbands-raise-money-for-charity

    The husbands swigged multiple glasses of red and white wine during the epic three-hour session and were even joined by Matthew’s mum, who chinked glasses with the pair.

    The hilarious antics are available to catch up with on Facebook. Take a look and get donating, if you can!

    Watch the video here:

  • This Church went viral after raising the Rainbow Flag for Cornwall Pride

    This Church went viral after raising the Rainbow Flag for Cornwall Pride

    A Church in Cornwall, UK has become an internet sensation after it raised the iconic rainbow flag for Cornwall Pride, this weekend.

    St Michael’s Church in Newquay, Cornwall has become an unexpectant internet hit after it raised a rainbow flag in time for Cornwall Pride this past weekend. The video has been viewed over 13,000 times and received plenty of positive comments.

     

    ABOVE: The historic moment St Michael’s Church raised the Rainbow Flag.

    The Pride’s Chairperson, Matthew Kenworthy-Gomes, noted how times and attitudes towards the LGBT+ community had changed, saying, “12 years ago 10 Christian’s with placards PROTESTED the first-ever Cornwall Pride in Truro! Turning their backs to the Cornwall Parade!”

    Now it looks as though the church is embracing diversity, tolerance and inclusivity, by raising the flag.

    Some of the Church’s followers weren’t happy with the decision to raise the flag, with one person writing, “No longer a Christian Church. The Bible tells us to repent from all sin. Not promote it”, while another added, “Obviously he’s not a Christian. No need to add anything more.”

    However, the majority of comments were entirely positive with many praising and thanking the church for its support.

    On their own Facebook page, the Anglican church noted, that they had a “fantastic afternoon, celebrating pride”.

    Just one of many firsts in the UK

    Earlier this year, Cornwall became the first place in the UK to hold a pride in a school. During the Come Out For Cornwall Pride bus tour, which stopped in 18 towns across Cornwall, the entire pride team decamped at the Helston High School – where hundreds of pupils joined in pride celebrations and waving the UK’s biggest Rainbow Flag.

    Cornwall’s Only Pride

    (C) THEGAYUK

    Cornwall Pride is the only pride event in the region which is home to over 500,000 residents. The yearly celebration is held in the seaside town of Newquay over looking the beach and sea, after it was moved from Truro a few years ago. This year it celebrated its 11th year with record numbers enjoying the entertainment in Killacourt and thousands taking part and viewing the parade which marched through the town’s centre.

  • This school in Cornwall is set to become the first in the UK to play host to a Pride

    This school in Cornwall is set to become the first in the UK to play host to a Pride

    In stark contrast to scenes elsewhere in the UK, one Cornwall School is set to play host to a Pride event this Friday.

     

    (C) GOOGLE MAPS

    Helston school in Cornwall will become the first school in the UK to host a pride event when the world famous Cornwall Pride tour makes a stop there on Friday morning.

     

    The Pride will be a stark contrast to scenes elsewhere in the UK, where some parents have been protesting the inclusion of LGBT+ acceptance and tolerance lessons.

    The Cornwall Pride tour will be stopping at 11 AM at Helston school and is described by Matthew Kenworthy-Gomes, the chairperson of Cornwall Pride as something “positive” in contrast to the protests and legal battles seen in Birmingham in recent months, “It really is a great positive news story” he added.

    He continued, “With the support of First Kernow (our regional bus service). We are taking two double-decker busses, packed full of amazing people representing different; charities, organizations, sponsors and partners. Each to support, represent and bring Pride to 18 towns in Cornwall over the two days! With the largest PRIDE FLAG in the UK!!”

    Where is the Cornwall Pride tour stopping off?

    On Friday, 21st June the tour will be stopping at

    Falmouth, Prince Charles Pier 9.50 AM

    Helston School, 11 AM

    Porthleven, The Green, 11.55 AM

    Penzance, Promenade, 12.45 PM

    St Ives Harbour Beach, 1.55 PM

    Hayle, Spar Shop, 2.55 PM

    Cambrone, Commerical Square, 3.30 PM

    Redruth, Fore Street, 4.15 PM

    Truro, Piazza, 5.05 PM

     

    On Saturday 22nd June

    Padstow Harbour, 10 AM

    Wadebridge, John Betjeman Centre, 11.05 AM

    Bodmin, Shire Hall, 11.05 AM

    Launceston, Castle, 12.55 PM

    Callington, Saltash Road Playing Field, 2.05 PM

    Saltash, Pier Old Ferry Roady, 2.50 PM

    Liskeard, Town Centre, 4 PM

    Lostwithiel, King George Field, 5.05 OM

    St Austell TBC

  • Cornwall Pride’s world famous Pride Tour is happening again this weekend

    Cornwall Pride’s world famous Pride Tour is happening again this weekend

    Cornwall Pride’s world famous Pride tour is happening again this weekend,  this is where the tour will be stopping and where you can join in with the celebrations.

    This weekend, look out for Cornwall Pride‘s tour bus as it weaves its way around the entirety of Cornwall, bringing pride to the people of Cornwall.

    The tour, which is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, is going to be bigger and larger than last year’s tour and is spread over two days.

    The tour will be taking in 18 towns across Cornwall over the two days – with plenty of time to get involved with the activities and festivities.

    There will be two mini pride events on the Friday in Truro, Cornwall and on Saturday afternoon in Saint Austell.

    Where is the Cornwall Pride tour stopping off?

    On Friday, 21st June the tour will be stopping at

    Falmouth, Prince Charles Pier 9.50 AM

    Helston School, 11 AM

    Porthleven, The Green, 11.55 AM

    Penzance, Promenade, 12.45 PM

    St Ives Harbour Beach, 1.55 PM

    Hayle, Spar Shop, 2.55 PM

    Cambrone, Commerical Square, 3.30 PM

    Redruth, Fore Street, 4.15 PM

    Truro, Piazza, 5.05 PM

    On Saturday 22nd June

    Padstow Harbour, 10 AM

    Wadebridge, John Betjeman Centre, 11.05 AM

    Bodmin, Shire Hall, 11.05 AM

    Launceston, Castle, 12.55 PM

    Callington, Saltash Road Playing Field, 2.05 PM

    Saltash, Pier Old Ferry Roady, 2.50 PM

    Liskeard, Town Centre, 4 PM

    Lostwithiel, King George Field, 5.05 OM

    St Austell TBC

  • Vandals leave Pride bench with “f**king queers” written in faeces

    Homophobes have left a public bench, which was specially painted in rainbow colours to mark Cornwall Pride, covered in sh*t.

    Organisers of Cornwall Pride have been left gutted after a bench, which had been freshly painted in the rainbow flag, was covered in what is assumed to be human excrement, with the words “f**king queers” written in it.

    The bench was due to be unveiled shortly to celebrate pride season in Cornwall, however, within 13 hours of the paint job completion someone had dumped on the bench and written a homophobic slur in the mess.

    Taking to social media the Cornwall Pride team wrote, “Why LGBTQ+ Pride? Last Night Someone Shit on our unfinished and spelt out “F***ing Queers” in shit. P.S Police have CCTV”

    PICTURED: The bench being finished by the Cornwall Pride team, before someone defaced the bench by defecating on it.

    The bench paint update was to do with a local project called DIY SOS Local a project which helps give Newquay’s Beach Parade a “sprucing up”. Cornwall Pride were gifted two benches on the Beach Parade.

    The bench will require scraping and repainting as the paint had not dried before it was damaged.

    A statement from Cornwall Pride said, “After all that hard work it was heart breaking to work through today knowing what had happened.

    This has been condemned by Cornwall Pride organisers the Newquay community leaders, council the Devon and Cornwall police as an obvious hate crime. It has been given to the Police as and they will be investigating as they have CCTV of the area. “A vile act of a individual or individuals that do not represent the feelings and support Newquay has for the community”

    “Please do not allow this to deter that Newquay is incredibly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. Cornwall Pride our supporters and the whole LGBTQ+ in Newquay are in shock but are now stanging stronger against the hate, which is why Pride exists”.

    Last month Cornwall Pride became the world’s first touring pride. Stopping off at Wadebridge, Launceston, Bodmin, St Austell, Truro, Falmouth, Heartlands, Hayle, Marazion, Penzance and Newquay, the touring pride allowed thousands of people to take part and witness the pride event. Some of the towns, like Bodmin, had never hosted a pride event before.

    The tour bus took off just after 9:00 AM in Newquay and returned over 12 hours later.

    Cornwall Pride’s official pride is to take place on the 25th August 2018.  To find out more visit their website.

     

  • The World’s first Pride tour just took place in Cornwall, UK

    The World’s first Pride tour just took place in Cornwall, UK

    An open-topped bus took pride across the UK’s most southern county, Cornwall.

    The world’s first pride tour took place in Cornwall this weekend, taking in 11 towns and cities across the UK’s most southerly county.

    Stopping off at Wadebridge, Launceston, Bodmin, St Austell, Truro, Falmouth, Heartlands, Hayle, Marazion, Penzance and Newquay, the touring pride allowed thousands of people to take part and witness the pride event. Some of the towns, like Bodmin, had never hosted a pride event before.

    The tour bus took off just after 9:00 AM in Newquay and returned over 12 hours later.

    The UK’s largest flag was unfurled on the beach in front of St Michael’s Mount in Marazion.

    In all, the tour took over 11 hours and covered over a hundred miles across Cornwall. At each the UK’s largest pride flag was unfurled and everybody who was in the vicinity was invited to fly the flag.

    Jake Hook, the Editor and Chief of THEGAYUK.com who were invited along for the day said, “It was such a privilege to join Nathaniel and Mathew and the rest of the wonderful Cornwall Pride team on this, the first Pride tour. It’s a brilliant idea, that allows for people who aren’t able to travel to one centrally located pride, which could be miles away, a way to celebrate pride closer to home. The motto of the day was definitely, ‘if you can’t come to pride, pride will come to you’. It was breathtaking to see so many people waving the rainbow flag and getting into the spirit of pride, no matter how they identify”.

    Cornwall Pride’s official pride is to take place on the 25th August 2017. To find out more visit their website.

  • The UK’s (possibly the world’s) first touring pride is happening in Cornwall

    The UK’s (possibly the world’s) first touring pride is happening in Cornwall

    If you can’t get to pride – Pride will come to you.

    Organisers of have created an ingenious way of ensuring anybody and everybody who wants to get involved with a pride in their county, but can’t make to one central location, can now do so, because this pride is going on tour (and there’ll be drag queens – squeal!) It’s been called a pop-up pride and a flash pride.

    The tour bus will be stopping off in 11 different locations on one day, the 23rd June. The stop offs include: Wadebridge 10:05 AM, Launceston 11.15 AM, Bodmin 12:35 PM, St Austell 13:55 PM, Truro 15:15 PM, Falmouth 16:30 PM, Heartlands 17:55 PM, Hayle 18:55 PM, Marazion 19:40 PM, Penzance 20:15 PM,  Newquay 21:55 PM.

    10.05 Wadebridge – Camel Trail nr. Lidl
    11.15 Launceston – Launceston Castle
    12.35 Bodmin – Town Council Court
    13.55 St Austell – White River Place nr. the Cinema
    15.15 Truro – Outside Hall for Cornwall
    16.30 Falmouth – Prince of Wales Pier
    17.55 Pool – Heartlands, outside the engine house nr. Red River Cafe
    18.55 Hayle – Penpol Creak. Park outside Spar
    19.40 Marazion – The Station House
    20.15 Penzance – Harbour
    21.55 Newquay – Killacourt

    The event is being called, Come Out For Cornwall and will take place on Saturday 23rd June 2018 and will be a celebration of being proud to be you as we travel throughout Cornwall in our ‘Pride Bus for the day’, visiting most of the major towns to spread the word about Pride and what it means as well as enforcing the message that Cornwall is an inclusive and accepting place to live work and visit, no matter who you are. To find out more click here.