Law Society steps out with pride
Date Published: 18-06-2009
18 June 2009
LAW SOCIETY STEPS OUT WITH PRIDE
The Law Society is calling on lawyers to join it and 500,000 people at the Pride London Parade on Saturday 4th July to celebrate and promote diversity and tackle discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Marching lawyers, led by Law Society Council member Keith Etherington and Law Society Junior Lawyers Division Executive member Kevin Poulter, will join the cavalcade of colour to raise awareness of discrimination and the issues and difficulties affecting the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender [LGBT] people in the UK and around the world.
The Law Society 'Pride Team' are inviting fellow lawyers to join them on the march, which is described as, "an explosion of Pride in the heart of the capital". The Parade is the main feature of the two week Pride festival, which uses theatre, music, debate, art and entertainment to promote equality, unity and a sense of community within the LGBT population.
The event aims to promote understanding and cooperation, as well as education in diversity, in order to tackle the discrimination faced by LGBT people. Pride London is a free event and provides an opportunity for the public to learn about LGBT charities, and find support or get involved.
Stephen Ward, Director of Equality and Diversity at the Law Society, says:
"The Law Society is working really hard to promote equality and diversity across the legal profession. This is a great way to carry on that work while having some fun. We hope that many LGBT lawyers, their proud colleagues and employers will join the Law Society at Pride this year."
The Law Society team will assemble at the corner of York Street and Gloucester Place in Marylebone at noon on 4 July. Contact Keith Etherington at: kelawsoc@googlemail.com to find out more about joining the Law Society team on the march.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
The Law Society added sexual orientation to its code of practice in 1995 with a view to tackling discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Its guidance in response to the solicitors Anti-Discrimination Rules 2004 moved beyond the stipulations of the rules to encourage the profession to extend notions of equality and diversity in the widest social context. The Law Society code of practice 1995 states that employers should ensure that equal opportunities policies cover discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation.
Pride London is a registered charity and produces the London Pride Festival.
The parade will set off from Baker Street at 1pm on July 4th and will proceed down Oxford Street and Regent Street, moving through Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square where a selection of speakers and performers will address the participants and on-lookers.
For more information call the Law Society press office on 020 7320 5902
