Mayo Pride organisers have said they “will not be intimidated” after a group of people targeted and disrupted an event organised by the LGBTQ+ community at the weekend.
Mayo Pride took place at the weekend, July 2 and July 3, with a number of events organised in the town of Westport.
The popular annual parade took place on Saturday and was followed by the event 'Drag Storytime', a pride family storytime organised in the independent bookshop Tertulia.
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However, a group of people targeted the event as they gathered outside the shop and disrupted the storytime. They held banners and interacted with participants.
A video published on Twitter by drag queen and activist Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera shows moments of tensions just outside the shop as the protesters faced the LGBTQ+ community.
Following the incident, Mayo Pride released a statement in which they explained the protesters “behaved abusively” towards the LGBTQ+ Mayo community, even leaving some of them “in tears”.
But they added they “will not be intimidated” and they are ready to run a full line-up of events in 2023.
They explained on Twitter : “Our Drag Story Time was targeted by far right protesters on Saturday. Mayo Pride was informed earlier in the week about far-right groups planning to disrupt the event.
"Both Mayo Pride and Tertulia Bookshop were subjected to violent threats and harassment.
“At the event itself, protesters behaved abusively towards LGBTQ+ teenagers, some of whom were left in tears.
They concluded: “Mayo Pride does not receive commercial funding and is run completely by volunteers. The harassment we received was scary. It was intended to distract us from promoting and building an inclusive society.
“We will not be intimidated. We intend to run a full line-up of events next year. If you'd like to support us, please donate now.”
Tertulia Bookshop also commented on the incident on Twitter, as they thanked all those who supported the event and the shop.
The bookshop posted on social media : “After a mad weekend we are bowled over with the support we have received in the shop and through our on-line shop.
“A special thanks to Mayo Pride, and to everyone who took the time to care and spread some love in the world.”
Mayo Pride is completely run by volunteers and has been promoting an including society since its first event in 2017. For next year, Mayo Pride has set up a GoFundMe page and if you want to donate you can click here.
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