Pride festival picks ‘We Are Family’ as this year’s theme

ORGANISERS of Dublin’s Pride Festival have chosen the theme ‘We Are Family’ for this year’s celebration, to tie in with the Catholic World Meeting of Families in August.

It is a move which may be seen as provocative in some Catholic quarters, following revelations about the editing of resource material to exclude references to gay families and couples.

The Pride Festival, which starts on June 21, culminates in a parade on Saturday, June 30.

Chair of the Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) Sara Philips, who has three adult children, has been selected as Grand Marshal.

Spokesperson for the festival Clodagh Leonard told the Irish Independent: “It is no coincidence that in the year when Pope Francis will visit Ireland and take part in the World Meeting of Families, we have chosen the theme ‘We Are Family’.

“Like many people, we were appalled at the exclusion of representation of LGBTQ+ families in literature for this event, but we were also encouraged by the number of people who spoke out about this, especially those from within the Church.”

She also highlighted that there are thousands of parents across Ireland – including those of faith – who love their LGBTQ+ children and “more than anything want to protect them and show them that they are loved and welcome in our Ireland”.

She added that there were family members lost along the way and families that were ripped apart. “It is not so long ago that we don’t remember the oppression, exclusion and violence that took them from us.”