Gateshead Council Cuts Pride Funding, Drops Flag

Gateshead Council has decided to stop flying the Pride flag outside its civic centre and will no longer fund Pride events. The move, announced by council leader Nick Allan, follows Sunderland’s Reform leadership pledge to never display the flag and has left the local LGBTQ+ community feeling abandoned.

Council Decision

Gateshead Council has announced that it will cease flying the Pride flag outside its civic centre and will no longer provide financial support for Pride events. Council leader Nick Allan said the council would not be involved in the “finance of Pride and the celebration of Pride” and that such matters should be handled by the groups themselves. The decision follows a similar pledge by Sunderland’s new Reform leadership that it would “never” fly the Pride flag.

The council’s move comes after a period of strong support for the LGBTQ+ community. Gateshead had previously been a prominent supporter of Pride, with the council funding events for the past years. The new policy will leave the town’s LGBTQ+ community feeling “on their own,” according to local charity OUT North East.

Community Reaction

Peter Darrant, CEO of OUT North East, which organises LGBT+ events in the region, said the decision had been made “without any real understanding of the benefits” Pride brings to the community. He added that the council’s withdrawal of funding would undermine the reach and impact of local Pride activities.

Labour councillor Shaun Edge, representing Crawcrook and Greenside, expressed concern about the decision’s effect on community cohesion. Edge said he was now “too scared” to walk into a pub holding his husband’s hand.

Impact on Pride Events

The Pride events scheduled to run in Gateshead between 15 and 30 June have already received council funding for this year. It is unclear how the council’s decision will affect the events, but organisers fear that the loss of funding could reduce the scale of activities and limit outreach to the community.

The council’s policy change follows a broader trend of local authorities re-examining their support for Pride. While Sunderland’s Reform leadership has committed to never flying the flag, Gateshead’s decision marks a significant shift from its previous stance of active support.

The council’s announcement has sparked debate across the region, with many calling for a reassessment of the role of local government in supporting LGBTQ+ initiatives.