Glasgow Pride 2018 suffered from major organisational problems resulting in people being refused entry, refused answers and subjected long spells in the hot weather without water.

Ged Killen MP has called on the organisers of Glasgow Pride and Glasgow City Council to review the decisions and arrangements that led to thousands of people being locked out of Glasgow Pride at the weekend.

Ged has written to express his concern at the scenes that unfolded over the weekend when people who had paid for tickets to the Pride Festival at Kelvingrove Park were not allowed in. This led to people fainting outside the festival due to heat exposure and volunteers receiving little to no support from organisers.

Ged has written to Alistair Smith Chief Executive of Pride Glasgow and Annemarie O’Donnell Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council regarding the organisation at Pride:

Commenting on the events at Glasgow Pride, Ged Killen MP said: 

“Having spent well over an hour in a queue outside the main event before leaving and returning later in the day, I witnessed first-hand the chaotic queuing system.  People were left standing with no information or guidance for several hours in the heat and with no water.”

“A significant number people were refused entry to Kelvingrove Park for the main concert despite purchasing tickets. I want categorical reassurances from Pride Glasgow that those who did not gain entry or who faced several hours waiting in line will be refunded promptly and in full.”

“The parades route was challenging, or impossible, for many people with disabilities and was at times dangerous due to impatient drivers on busy roads trying to cut through the parade, particularly at Elbank Street/St Vincent Street.”

“I was delighted that this year’s Glasgow Pride parade was the best attended ever and I know thousands of people had a wonderful experience despite issues with access to the main event, however much of pride this year can only be described as an organisational nightmare”

“Pride should always be an open and inclusive celebration for the LGBT+ community in Scotland and, if it that is to continue in Glasgow, I hope that organisers will endeavour to work with the community in an open and transparent way to learn lessons from the 2018 experience at Kelvingrove.”

“There is now growing interest in the seemingly commercial nature of Glasgow Pride and the fact it is not a free event as it is in other cities such as London and Edinburgh, and there are questions about whether this commercial nature had an impact on how Glasgow Pride was run.”