
Things are really starting to heat up in East London with the planned "East End Pride" event to combat recent anti-gay posters put up in the area. First, some gay rights campaigners in the area had called for the march to be cancelled, claiming that it would inflame tensions between gay people and Muslims.
Then yesterday the big news hit. One of the organizers of "East End Pride" Raymond Berry resigned after it was revealed that he had been involved with the English Defense league, their aim to oppose the spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in England. Pride London claimed that they had been "misled" by Berry and released a statement saying: “The remaining members of the East End Gay Pride would like to state for the record that we do not support or condone anything that the EDL stand for.”
They went on to clear: East End Gay Pride asked our assistance to steward the event to ensure that the event remained only a pro-gay and not an anti-anything event. We believe that the bulk of the organisation remains solid in that commitment to Pride being a positive concept only. The event itself is not a front for the EDL, and the EDL remains unlinked to the event – it is just one member that has past links with the organisation.”
So, now the most important question is: Will the march take place April 2nd? Well, the parade has been backed by local police and Tower Hamlets but it is still unclear what will happen in light Raymond Berry's resignation. Do you think the march so go on? Or will this do more damage than it will do good? Yes, this is a tricky one!