The LGBT Cleveland Community Center has stepped forward to say that it will attempt to push ahead with some sort of Cleveland Pride celebration after last week’s shock announcement from local Pride organizers that they were cancelling this year’s event.
Cleveland was expecting to celebrate its 28th annual LGBT Pride on 13 August.
As GSN reported Friday, organizers of Cleveland Pride posted a statement to its website on Thursday announcing that it was cancelling the 13 August event due to a ‘changing social environment.’
‘We have been entrusted by our community to create a secure parade and festival environment for our LGBTQ brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, friends and allies,’ said Todd J. Saporito, president and CEO of Cleveland Pride, Inc.
‘Because of the changing social climate, Cleveland Pride did not have enough time to engage in the development of awareness programs and training that we believe is critical in today’s environment. Therefore, we regretfully cancelled our 28th annual parade, rally and festival this year.’
Many locals were angered that not only was the event was being cancelled, but that organizers were being vague in their reasons behind the cancellation. A petition calling for the dismissal of Saporito has gained over 1,200 signatures at the time of writing.
Yesterday, LGBT Cleveland Community Center posted a statement to its Facebook stating that it was looking at ways to go ahead with the festival on 13 August.
‘After last Thursday’s announcement made by Cleveland Pride Inc. that the annual Cleveland Pride Parade and Festival had been cancelled, Cleveland LGBTQ Leaders joined together on the morning of July, 31st to move forward with a new event that will take place on Saturday, August 13, 2016.
‘We will have a safe and secure environment in which to celebrate and we will show the world that Cleveland’s LGBTQ Community Rocks. Please stay tuned for more details on location, times, entertainment, etc. Cleveland will unite and will celebrate our community and diversity on Saturday, August 13, 2016.’
GSN has approached Cleveland LGBT Center and Cleveland Pride for further comment.
The post After Cleveland Pride cancelled, new festival to be arranged to take its place appeared first on Gay Star News.
from Gay Star News http://ift.tt/2aqd0eC
via IFTTT
Equality News 