Home   Canterbury   News   Article

Gay rights group Pride in Canterbury closes as founders move from city

Pride in Canterbury founders Martin Lammas and Andrew Brettell

by Joe Walker

The founders of a gay rights group in Canterbury have fired a parting shot at the city after deciding to move from the area.

Andrew Brettell and Martin Lammas, who formed Pride in Canterbury nine years ago, slammed attitudes towards the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) community as they prepared to set up home in the more “gay-friendly” city of Norwich.

The couple have long-criticised Canterbury City Council and the lack of a gay scene in the city.

And they pulled no punches when announcing their plans to leave Canterbury for pastures new.

In a statement on the Pride in Canterbury website, which will now be archived, they said: “We believed in our goals and we still believe that true equality must come to this area one day and that is important, for both GLBT people and for the city as a whole, but we are not getting any younger, and the opposition and indifference to our work has made us realise sadly that it probably will not happen while we can fully enjoy it.

“We are therefore moving to Norwich, a vibrant city, where the progress towards GLBT equality is already taking place.

“We believe that we can be happy there, that it is a city in which we can relax and feel that we belong.

“Young, middle-aged or old, there is little for gay people in Canterbury.

“We have lived in Kent for almost 24 years now, years in which, in spite of the tremendous progress made elsewhere, the GLBT scene has almost disappeared throughout the county.”

In 2009, Mr Brettell complained the city was a “cultural wilderness” and one of few in England without any gay bars.

Pride in Canterbury also made an official complaint about Canterbury City Council to the Local Government Ombudsman.

But an investigation found no grounds for the group’s claims, and even added that the organisation had been given funding by the council.

What do you think? Is Canterbury gay-friendly?

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More