comment 1 said on Friday, 3 August 2007, 1:00pm

I have read your article with absolute shame. I am not gay, I am straight, but I have many gay and lesbiand friends that I work and socialise with.

We are a free country. People who disagree have a right to express their opinion. But picketing and trying to stop other people from being who they are I believe is very wrong.

My gay friends are loyal, kind, loving, fun people who I trust and care about. I may not share their sexuality, but they have every right to show they are gay and proud.

comment 2 said by Squirrel2 on Friday, 3 August 2007, 2:04pm

I am gay and totally disagree with the policies of the NF and Christian Voice, however - how can we march and expect the right of speech and representation, if we seek to stop others from the same thing?

The day is called "Pride", what better way to truly show pride than to march past these people and show dignity in the face of bigotry. It is easy to be proud in front of your own, and sympathetic believers, but that too is an easy route.

People in the past have had to endure far more than a few placard-waving right-wingers, so in these days when we have most things on a plate the challenge of having to face up to such attitudes is a good and enriching one.

comment 3 said by little dude on Friday, 3 August 2007, 3:05pm

Depending on the slogans that may appear on banners, the chants, or the information that may be given out by these two organasations at the location - the police should be keeping a very close eye on them!

As a black gay man I do not expect to read/hear things that are distressing or alarming. Pride is, as the tittle suggests a day to be loud, proud, and free!

We know through the media that "the war on terror" has brought in legislation to deal with protestors who cross the line and express views which could be deemed offensive, or that promote violence.

If you are distressed or alarmed by anything these people do I would urge you to speak to a police officer at the location. If they do not take you seriously, take the officers warrent number and attend your police station (after the weekend) to express your concern.

At the end of the day we are all there to have a good day/weekend - dont let anyone spoil it.

comment 4 said by adam s on Friday, 3 August 2007, 5:32pm

I think we should be thankful that we are actually allowed to hold a pride parade there are many countries which do not allow the parades to take place.

Also every person has the right to free speech. At the end of the day we are who we are and need to rise above the simpleminded comments and taunt.

If they are abusive, homophobic, racist or similar or even cause a delay to the pride march the police have various powers to act and arrest.

Hold your head up high and smile! This is our day to celerbrate who we have chosen to be... don't let anyone destroy it for you.

comment 5 said by don on Saturday, 4 August 2007, 12:12am

Let the presence of these bigoted groups remind us that Pride is not only a big party, it's still a political statement. It's too easy to want these factions hidden out of sight ("don't spoil our party") and to be complacent that the march of progress is on our side: it's not, we have to face such attacks with pride and continue to make equality happen. It's not only up to the few activists, it's up to all of us to be aware of opposition and make a stand, and have some fun doing it.

comment 6 said on Saturday, 4 August 2007, 7:17am

I just think it is such a lovely touch that the Christian Church have teamed up with a bunch of hate mungers!! Priceless!!

Then again the Church's history is spattered with examples of how they will very readily 'look the other way' on their own moral preachings...if it gets the job done, so don't be too amazed!

My advice...laugh at them...or, if you have a camera...go down and pretend to take lots of pictures of them...even pretend to write a few notes in a pad...that'll 'put the willys up them'!!!! Happy Pride!

comment 7 said by Nigel on Saturday, 4 August 2007, 12:28pm

As a gay man I get concerned with these bigots like everyone else, but we all have the freedom of speech, to deny anyone this freedom we may deny our own freedom of speech. If we acknowledge them we stoop to their level and make them important. They are nothing to us or the general public - let them deal with their own oppression.

You only have to look at the people in the park today and realise these people are not important and count for nothing.

Let them have there say because it doesn’t mean a thing to the 70,000 who are in the park, So party on and be proud of who and where we are and the freedom we have !!!!!!!

comment 8 said by Westhamandy on Sunday, 5 August 2007, 1:41am

Please let's not confuse groups like Christian Voice with Christianity. With all the problems that face mankind right now all Christain Voice supremo, Stephen Green, seems obsessed with gays. There is no account of Christ saying that homosexuality is wrong. If there was this would be the chapter and verse they would be ramming in our faces. The only place these bigots can refer to is the book of Leviticus - where there is also talk of all men having to be circumcised and not eating pork products (i.e. bacon and ham). How many of these bigots live by these biblical instructions?

comment 9 said by Pete, National Front. on Sunday, 5 August 2007, 12:08pm

Firstly let me say that we (NF) were not aligned with the Christian Voice people at all. We were not within a mile of them. What happened yesterday was a disgrace - and most of the blame lies squarely at the door of Sussex Police.

There was only twelve of us, that included four young children, their mother, and two old aged pensioners. The police had given us permission to 'demonstrate anywhere in Brighton', but after meeting our rendezvous party told us that they had designated the corner of Baker Street / London Road. Unlike our activities in London and other cities, there was no barrier between us and the general public, and just two policemen were assigned to us.

We complained, we knew there was going to be trouble, even though our intention was to hold a silent and peaceful demo. And whether you like it or not, we have a democratic right to demonstrate, and the police have a duty to make sure we are not attacked.

As soon as we held up our first banner we were rushed by a mob of rabid nutters. We were assaulted and our flags and banners were torn down and stolen. The police did nothing. We stood our ground, but when everything had been stolen, we decided to move on because we were worried about the children. Yes your wonderful peaceful harmless people were bombarding us with projectiles.

We believe we were set up by Brighton Police Yesterday, the pitch they gave us was totally unsuitable, and the protection offered was a joke.

Those who attacked us need to take a serious look at themselves. What happened to Fairbrass and Tatchell in Russia caused outrage among your community.

You have proved that you are indeed no better than the people who attacked them.

comment 10 said by NewsBlog on Sunday, 5 August 2007, 2:57pm

REALBrighton contacted the police to ask them to comment on the policing of the NF protest. Inspector Piloni at the Sussex Police Control Room said that at this stage no officer had reported any complaints made on the day about the policing of the event - although, he said, it was possible that some reports have yet to be filed.

He told us, "approximately a dozen supporters of the National Front attended at an agreed location (Baker Street) which is well away from the main park entrance. This small group were effectively policed."