Derby’s third annual Pride festival ended peacefully this weekend, despite a group of homophobic Muslim protesters.
The group, consisting of fourteen people, waved banners bearing anti-gay messages.
Hundreds of pride goers and passers-by shouted out support for the Pride event, in an attempt to drown out the demonstrators.
Though the protestors were largely ignored, or shouted over, a few people responded by blowing whistles and shouting “out and proud” at the demonstrators.
One Grandmother who had been watching the parade broke down in tears, saying to the Derby Telegraph: “My 18-year-old grandson is gay. He is who he is. Who are these people to tell others how to live? It’s totally wrong – I’m glad they were drowned out.”
Lucy Brolin, who was shopping in the area at the time said: “This is a free country. Why should gay people be subjected to abuse?”
The theme of this year’s Pride event was Pride not Prejudice and Shaun Peaty, vice-chairman of the event, commented to the Derby Telegraph that: “We’ve always been quite lucky – we do get a lot of support from the community.”
He added: “It is a community event for everyone to come along to. Everyone had a good time. I’m really pleased with how it’s gone.”
A police spokeswoman said that the views of the protesters did not represent the Muslim majority, saying: “The Pride event is a family fun day and has been a great day, there was a small group of about 14 people who are a minority that chose to counter demonstrate.”
