Cllr Murray has said: “Pride is not just a celebration of how far we’ve come as a society in advancing the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, but a chance to reflect on how much progress we still have yet to make, and to protest the inequalities and discrimination that persist.
“Every year, Belfast Pride is a highlight in our local social calendar and we want to wish everyone out celebrating a safe and happy Pride. With the increasingly toxic narratives we’ve seen being perpetuated in recent years around LGBTQIA+ identities, both by influential public figures and in wider society, Pride is more important than ever and the theme ‘No Going Back’ couldn’t be more apt.
“I’m looking forward to marking the occasion with our party members at a special Pride Breakfast event on Saturday morning, before going to march in the parade in a personal capacity for the 19th year in a row, as I know a number of my Alliance colleagues will also be doing.
“Alliance will always stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. We remain firmly committed to promoting equality and human rights, and championing investment and reform in the services that LGBTQIA+ people in Northern Ireland need.”