Gays March For Rights

27 July 2005

FAMILY VALUES: Carr

POLICE are bracing themselves for traffic chaos as gay rights campaigners march through the town centre this Saturday.

Organisers claim hundreds of Bromley's Gay and Lesbian community will march through Bromley to demonstrate against the council's refusal to allow same sex civil partnership ceremonies in civic buildings.

Campaigners from as far afield as Oxford and Bournemouth are expected to attend, with several trade unions joining the march, and police admit they may be forced to stop traffic.

Inspector Jeremy Smith, the borough's operations inspector, said: "We may have to stop cars to facilitate the march along certain roads.

"We've been told there will be about 200 people but the march has received wide publicity so we have to plan ahead.

"We won't be closing roads but there will be traffic concerns."

However campaigners are laying the blame for any disruption firmly at the feet of Bromley council.

Organiser Mimi Broit said: "It's going to cause a lot of disruption to Bromley roads. I hope the council are proud of themselves."

Co-organiser Gino Meriano added: "We have to raise the profile of this, it is based on bigotry. We had to offer some support. It's about couples having full choice. The ultimate goal would be for them [Bromley council] to say they would offer ceremonies."

The protesters are due to meet at The Crown and Anchor Pub at noon and plan to march past Bromley North Station, round Sherman Road to the High Street, past the Glades Shopping Centre and down Kentish Way to the civic centre, where a petition will be handed to officials.

Council leader Stephen Carr and several members of Bromley's ruling Conservative executive have publicly stated they believe that gay marriage 'undermines family values' and a decision not to allow same sex ceremonies was taken in March.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone subsequently wrote to Mr Carr accusing the council of 'discrimination' and warning him the GLA were preparing a legal challenge over the issue.

A council spokesman last week said the council's 'final position' on the issue had not yet been decided and would be determined in January, several weeks after new civil partnership laws come into effect.

He said the decision had been deferred from a meeting in March to reflect the fact that 'Bromley council considers it vitally important to encourage traditional marriage'.

However, a proportion of Conservatives are opposed to relaxing the ban.

Councillor Colin Bloom has told the Bromley Times: "I am certainly comfortable with the stance the council has taken and I would oppose any moves to change it."



l For more information about the march, go to www.bromley.gaypettswood.com.