Scouts set to attend Worcestershire Pride to show support

Scouts are set to support Worcestershire Pride for the first time.

The parade is taking place in the city on Saturday, September 21.

Robert Sidley – otherwise known as Sid – is the county commisioner for Scouts in Hereford and Worcester.

Mr Sidley, aged 39 said: “Pride is a big event now. For us, this is about celebrating diversity and demonstrating to everyone how inclusive we are.

“We feel it’s important to support and embrace all of our members and we thought Pride is an ideal way of doing that.”

The group takes in individuals from the age of six years old to 18.

Forty members from Scouts within the county will be at the event, with 15 members, aged between six and 17, volunteering their time.

Phil Lacey, assistant county commisioner responsible for Pride, said: “Attending Pride is a way of building a more inclusive society and demonstrating that we welcome LGBT members.

"The issue is knowing at a young age where you can turn to for support. The idea is to get that message out there and encourage people to be themselves and join us.”

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Mr Lacey, aged 35 added: “Scouts can be stereotyped, and everyone seems to think we don’t accept girls. I am not your typical scout, but everyone is welcome here and we want to include the LGBT community. I’ve been going to Pride all over the country since I was 16. It’s all about having a good day out meeting new people and hanging out with your friends.”

Pride will be returning to Worcester for its third year and will be celebrating the birth of the LGBT liberation movement, following the riots of 1969 in New York. Members will parade through the streets starting at the fountains in Deansway, leading up to Broad Street, High Street, Pump Street and on to New Street and into the Cornmarket, where the main event will be held at 12.30pm.