Gordon Brown Pledges Continued Support Of LGBT Rights In Letter To National Student Pride

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has written the organisers of the National Student Pride that is being held in Brighton this weekend to offer his support to them and the event.

Writing that he hopes that all those attending have “a fantastic weekend”, Brown also promised that the Labour party would continue in it’s support of LGBT rights and the fight for equality and added:

“we’ve done a lot – but we can never be complacent and must always be vigilant to see that progress isn’t reversed.”

Both the Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have also added their support with Clegg saying:

“I’m delighted to be able to offer my support, and that of my party, to National Student Pride 2010. Despite the repeal of Section 28, the equalisation on the age of consent and same sex adoption, homophobia is still capable of rearing its ugly head in playgrounds, workplaces and even in the home. This is why the Liberal Democrats remain steadfast in our commitment to LGBT rights.

“Liberal Democrats believe it is an individual’s right to live their lives as they see fit, without discrimination, with personal privacy, with equal rights in front of the law. No one should be shackled by conformity, ignorance or intolerance. This applies to a person’s sexuality in the same way it does to their race, gender, religion or beliefs.

“I know how important student pride is to students up and down the country as a chance to celebrate the LGBT community, mark the progress which has already been made and focus on the challenges of the future.

“Unprecedented strides have been made in equal rights for LGBT people, but we still have more to do, from stamping out homophobic bullying in schools, ending the ban on gay men giving blood, to treating gay asylum seekers fairly.

“I’m really pleased that so many people are standing up to be counted today.”

Whilst there is a political element to the Student Pride, this is also an event about celebrating the LGBT community which will be done in style with Girls Can’t Catch and Erik Hassle performing, as well as an appearance from the new patron of Student Pride, The Feeling’s lead singer Dan Gillespie-Sells.