EuroPride comes to London!

12.17.43pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 30th Jun 2006

Sarah Ludford enjoys Europride with the chair of LibDem Lesbian and Gay action group (DELGA) Kelvin Meyrick, deputy leader of Islington Council Lucy Watt, London European spokesman Jonathan Fryer, Jen Smith and Southwark councillor David Hubber.

London's Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford will be joining other Liberal Democrat gay rights campaigners at tomorrow's EuroPride march and rally in central London. Sarah is a member of the European Parliament's LGBT Intergroup, which fights to uphold equality and respect for EU anti-discrimination laws. She said:

"I'm delighted that Europride is in London, one of the most diverse cities in the world. Here in the UK, while a lot has been achieved on gay rights, there remains work to do to achieve real equality."

"Homophobia is rife in parts of Europe, even, disgracefully, in some states now in the EU. While tomorrow's march will be a celebration with a carnival atmosphere, gay pride marches in other European countries have been banned by authorities or subject to harassment, threats, violence and hate speech."

"The EU has a duty to ALL its citizens to ensure that their fundamental rights are respected, and must take a lead in enforcing EU equalities laws and making homophobic hate crime punishable by harsh penalties."

Related Link:

Click here to read Sarah's recent speech on outlawing hate crime.