Oakham Pride March Saturday 25th June 2022
Today the following question was posted in the Oakham Pride volunteers group.
Hey,
I was wondering if we were doing a march and if there was a way to register groups to March.
Also I was wondering if there are any fliers or items like that to tell people it is happening as I have being speaking to people about it and there is a lack of awareness it is happening
Also I had a thought about Facebook eventing it so people could learn about it that way too.
Hope this was okay to ask.
Josh
Oakham Pride Responded:
Hi Joshua, there’s not going to be a parade this year as it’s something we’d like to build on in future! There is a Facebook event for it on the Oakham Pride page so please feel free to share! And we are in the process of organising flyers and posters 😊 hope this helps! Admin Oakham Pride.
Following this response I decided to organise the Pride March, after all it is not unusual for the march and festival to be two separate events.
I then waited for Pride Oakham to remove the march from there website.
Then I got on with starting to organise the March, I have served Leicestershire police the required notice and as matter of courtesy I notified Rutland County Council.
I then created a post for the local LGBTQ+ group which is also run buy Oakham Pride and they have refused to publish my post.
This is my post:
Hi thank's to Oakham Pride for organising the Festival in the Castle this June.
Oakham Pride march from Church Street Oakham to Market street is currently being organised.
All members of our LGBTQ+ community are invited to join the walk and following this join the Pride Festival.
No large organisations will be invited just individuals.
This will hopefully attract similar numbers like the Good Friday Walk of witness , the Town Centre Improvements protest march and Black Lives Matter Protest held during lockdown, none of these required TTO's from the council.
A Public Order Notification, a legal requirement required by the local police, at least 6 days before a procession, has been completed and sent. So that gives the police plenty of notice.
As a matter of courtesy the local authority has been sent a notice.
It is important to remember why Pride Marches happen.
Yes it is a celebration of our communities, it is also a protest for our legal rights and a stand against how some are treated.
A web page and social media accounts and further publicity will appear shortly.
Thank You Martin Brookes
Oakham Pride have posted the following odd statement in two Facebook groups
A statement from Oakham Pride, Founding Director, Abii Lavery.
In regards to the recent concerns on a pride march.
While we appreciate the enthusiasm shown by Martin Brookes and his passion for a march, he is not a member of the Oakham Pride committee and therefore any correspondence or plans from him has no association with the official Oakham Pride event and organisation. We as a committee will oversee the pride march as the official representatives and founders of Oakham Pride.
The Oakham Pride Committee was created so all aspects of the event could be looked after by individual members that have experience in the field of work they would be undertaking. This is to ensure the event as a whole runs well and is enjoyable for all that attend.
The council will be contacted regarding the breach of information between myself and who I have been corresponding with throughout organising Oakham Pride as that information should not have been shared.
Personally I find the sudden change very odd and expressed my concerns via the comment sections.
This is Oakham Prides latest response:
Oakham Pride Author Admin
Well two marches means a fabulous turn out for the festival all round
