Pride Talks Back 2020

It’s the biggest LGBT+ political debate of the year and had a full house last year as well as 5,000 online views for the live stream on Facebook. This year we’ll be online and we’ll be asking leading politicians to take your questions on why we still don’t have full Equality and what they have been doing to try to change that.

After the long road to Marriage Equality and Reproductive Rights here, we will look at why there has been no progress on access to Healthcare for Trans People or Gender Recognition Rights, when and how will ‘Conversion Therapy’ be banned?, when will there be Inclusive RSE in schools? and when will Mental Health services be improved?

Journalist Allison Morris, Security Correspondent for the Irish News will host Pride Talks Back 2020 and will put some of your questions to the panel. The debate will start at 7.00pm on Belfast Pride’s Facebook page – you can send in your question in advance – just fill in the form below.

Your panel:

Naomi Long MLA, Alliance PartyNaomi Long is leader of the Alliance Party and current Justice Minister, she became a Councillor on Belfast City Council in 2001, an MLA in 2003, served as Belfast Lord Mayor in 2009, became the first Alliance MP in 2010 and first Alliance MEP in 2019.

DUP – Awaiting Confirmation

Cllr. Anthony Flynn, Green Party

Anthony Flynn has been a Green Party Councillor for Ormiston in East Belfast since May 2019 and is Green Party spokesperson for East Belfast and is the Queer Greens co-founder and spokesperson.

Cllr. Fiona Ferguson, People Before Profit

Fiona Ferguson has been a People Before Profit Councillor for Oldpark on Belfast City Councillor since May 2019 and was previously involved in campaigning on areas including for Reproductive Rights, Poverty and rights for Irish speakers and victims.

Cllr. Pete Byrne, SDLP

Pete Byrne has been a councillor for the Slieve Gullion district on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for the last 4 years and is involved in a number of community and voluntary organisations in the area.

Emma Sheerin, MLA, Sinn Féin

Emma Sheerin has been a Sinn Féin MLA for Mid Ulster since November 2018 and is Sinn Féin’s Assembly spokesperson on Equality.

Doug Beattie MLA, Ulster Unionist Party

Doug Beattie is the Justice spokesperson for the Ulster Unionist Party and became a Councillor on Armagh, Craigavon and Banbridge District Council in 2014, was elected as an MLA for Upper Bann in May 2016 and was a member of the Royal Irish Rangers for 28 years before entering politics.

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