MANCHESTER, August 26 2006  –  John Leech, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Manchester Withington, will launch the ‘Stop Homophobic Bullying’ petition in the North West, this afternoon, (Saturday 26th August 2006) at 4.15pm at the Lib Dem Stall in the Lifestyle Expo area at Manchester LGBT Pride.

Liberal Democrats are campaigning to stamp out homophobia in schools. The ‘Stop Homophobic Bullying’ petition supports work currently being done in Parliament by Liberal Democrat MPs and Members of the House of Lords to get Government support for the following measures :-

■  Homophobic taunts and name calling in schools to be challenged immediately by staff;

■  All schools’ anti-bullying policies to be required to include measures specifically to deal with homophobic bullying;

■  At least one teacher in every school to undergo training which includes how to tackle homophobic bullying.

“Homophobic bullying affects many pupils, teachers and school staff whether they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or straight and can cause lasting harm,” Mr. Leech says.

“It is time that the Government had a clear strategy to stamp out homophobia in schools. I am proud today to be launching the ‘Stop Homophobic Bullying’ petition in the North West at Manchester LGBT Pride.”

The Pride Parade, which at 2 pm, has a new – and longer – route this year.  For the first time, the parade will go through the city centre.

It will travels up Deansgate from Liverpool Road, past the Great Northern Square and right up past Rylands Library where it swings right onto St Anne Street.  Turning right onto Cross Street, it moves onto Princess Street and past Albert Square by the Town Hall where the judging platform will be situated.

Continuing down Princess Street, the parade makes it way down to the village, turning left at Whitworth Street and finishing at Aytoun Street.  (click HERE for map of the route)

“The new route has been designed to add diversity to previous year’s parades,” says Sarah Rowland, Festival Director, Manchester Pride.

“The very fact that the Parade will march through the heart of the city serves to show how welcoming Manchester is of its own diversity.”

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