OXFORD, July 17  –  The rainbow flag will be flying on the Oxford Town Hall on December 21, the first day of same-sex civil partnership ceremonies in England, the city’s Lord Mayor promised yesterday.

Speaking at Oxford Pride in Cowpens, Councillor Bob Price shunned the civic finery and regalia and dressed for the hot weather – a pair of white shorts and a lavender open shirt.

He said that this year would be a milestone in UK LGBT history with the introduction of civil partnerships.

Oxford will “fly the flag on the Town Hall” as the first couples are officially recognised, he said.

Earlier, local MP Dr. Evan Harris, who represents Oxford West and Abingdon, pointed out that there had been much progress in equality for the gay community.  But there was still a way to go, he reminded the crowd.

“Equality in the provision of goods and services is just one area we have to address,” he said.

“Groups like Oxford Pride raise awareness, provide support to members of the community and have a key role to play in ending discrimination and changing homophobic attitudes and practices,” he added.

Dr. Evan Harris, a trained HIV/AIDS counsellor, is the honorary president of the Liberal Democrat Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

It was the third annual Pride in Oxford.  And it is a refreshingly different Pride from most – a case of going back to basics.  There was not a parade in sight.  Nothing, but nothing, was “in your face”.

The emphasis was on “community” and it was more like a traditional summer fête.  There were groups sitting on the grass with a picnic being entertained, community organisations with stalls and a display of local gay history over the past 25 years.

Also on had was a Registrar to explain civil partnerships and how Oxford and Oxfordshire would be offering ceremonies for same-sex couples in the same way as for traditional civil marriages.

Note:  The first registrations of civil partnerships in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)  is on December 21.  In Northern Ireland it is December 20.

LINKS

Oxfordshire County Council Civil Partnership website

17 July 2005