Leading LGBT elected representatives and activists have signed a letter of no confidence in the organisers of Belfast Pride, calling for them to resign.
They raised concerns over communication, governance and a “continued lack of transparency or accountability” in the organisation that runs the annual parade and festival.
The letter was signed by 22 LGBT activists including Alliance MLA Andrew Muir, SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite and Green Party councillors Malachai O’Hara and Anthony Flynn.
Other signatories include UUP North Belfast representative Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston, transgender rights campaigner Ellen Murray, Alliance activist Micky Murray and SDLP communications officer Martin McAuley.
The letter, seen by Belfast Live, read: “We cannot be complicit in the continued failure of Belfast Pride to represent our community in a transparent, accountable and inclusive way. Our Queer community deserves better.
“Unless radical change occurs we no longer have any confidence in the current organisation of Belfast Pride to deliver a fit-for-purpose city-wide LGBT+ festival.”
It added: “The chair and any remaining board members should immediately begin a process of establishing a new board and tender their resignations.”
Belfast Pride acknowledged a need to “improve our consultation and communication” but said its committee would not be resigning.
It said the organisation is on a “journey of change” and has been working on restructuring plans that include adding permanent representation from other LGBT groups.
The joint letter follows confusion surrounding plans for this year’s Belfast Pride, which will mark 30 years since the city’s first Pride parade.
Some pubs began publicising their own date for Pride events amid an absence of information, but amended their plans after Belfast Pride subsequently confirmed details.
LGBT organisation Cara-Friend, which had been involved in efforts to improve Belfast Pride, last week said it “cannot continue to engage with Belfast Pride in its current format”.
Belfast Pride later said the festival would take place from July 23 to August 1, but amid the pandemic no parade has been organised for Pride Day on Saturday July 31.
“There will be a mix of online events and in-person events but there isn’t a safe way to make the Pride Day events happen in person,” it tweeted.
In their letter, LGBT activists said efforts have been made to offer support to Belfast Pride and address concerns, but there remained a “significant lack of clarity, verging on confusion”.
Belfast’s three LGBT councillors contacted Belfast Pride in March to seek clarity on issues including its legal and charitable status, constitution, audited accounts and funding.
“To date the elected representatives have not as yet even received the most basic professional courtesy of acknowledgement or receipt of this correspondence and as a result no further clarity has been provided,” the letter said.
“Many others have been trying to get information in relation to Belfast Pride 2021 to complete silence.”
The signatories described their intervention as an “option of last resort” as Belfast Pride has “refused to engage”.
“In failing to provide any answers, Belfast Pride has failed our community and created an opportunity for those who have resisted progress on LGBT+ rights to criticise our community,” they added.
In a statement, Belfast Pride said the festival has grown significantly in the last decade and it has been working on restructuring plans.
“We always want to improve Belfast Pride and we have been working over the last year to build a better organisation that fully represents our community and manage the challenges that growth brings,” it said.
“We have outlined our plans and fully addressed questions on our charity status, legal status, accounts and development work and sought funding to help fund future plans.”
It added: “Belfast Pride is on a journey of transformative change and we will continue to demand change for our community and make sure that we are organised in the best possible way to do this.”
