Plymouth Pride Event
Over 1,000 members of the lesbians, gay, bisexual and trans (LBGT) community are expected at the region’s largest Pride event on Saturday 7th June in Plymouth Guildhall.
The free-entry, one-day Pride event will be officially opened at 11 am by the city’s Lord Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Brian Vincent and Pauline Murphy.
The day long programme includes a history exhibition, including Holocaust Memorial Day and Gateway to Heaven; a play based on the memories of older lesbians and gay men, a public forum with police, health, and city council representatives, an international speaker on the experiences of being a gay Muslim in Iraq and sexual health workshops for women and men.
Law firm Foot Anstey’s Living Together team are giving advice on issues of importance to the LGBT community at their legal workshop at 12 noon in the Guildhall and on their stand in the main hall throughout the day.
Tamara Richardson of the Living Together team at Foot Anstey said “Our workshop will address some common areas of concern to gay and lesbian couples.
“For example you don’t have legal rights just by living with someone. If you have a civil partnership, you won’t automatically get half of your partner’s assets and next of kin has no legal meaning – to make financial and medical decisions for each other, you need a lasting power of attorney.”
“Unfortunately, lawyers have a reputation for being intimidating and inaccessible and this can result in couples missing out on the legal advice they need. This is why it was so important to the Living Together team to attend Plymouth Pride; it will give us the opportunity to dispel some legal myths such as the existence of the common-law spouse or partner and to give some practical legal advice and pointers in a positive and supportive forum.”
Other topics to be covered in the workshop include civil partnership pros and cons, pre-nups, cohabitation agreements, adoption and childcare issues and buying a property together.
Visitors to the Foot Anstey stand also have an opportunity to win a Champagne Balloon Flight for two, with the winner being announced on this website on 12th June 2008.
Plymouth Pride event 2008 is a registered charity raising funds in support of the city’s LGBT organisations and working in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, Plymouth Primary Care Trust, Out Youth Group, Plymouth Pride Forum, Plymouth Sound Radio, The Swallow public house, Zeros Nightclub, Eddystone Trust, Intercom Trust, Fyne Times, In Other Words Books, She Bang, University of Plymouth, and the TUC South West.
More information about the 2008 Pride event is available by visiting the website www.plymouthprideevent.co.uk or emailing info@plymouthprideevent.co.uk or telephoning 07753 339965.
Wednesday, 04 June 2008
