7/9/2005

Cardiff Council is adding its support to the seventh annual Cardiff-Wales Lesbian and Gay Mardi Gras this weekend.

In the city’s centenary year and golden jubilee as capital of Wales, the council is contributing £10,000 to the staging of the event on September 10.

Over 40,000 revellers will flock to Cardiff to ‘paint the town pink’ in the biggest gay party Wales has ever seen to celebrate Wales’ proud gay, lesbian and bisexual community.

This year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever with entertainment including an evening of discussion, music, comedy and drama with Russell. T. Davies – the talent behind Queer as Folk and the new Dr Who series, comedian Clare Summerskill and West End actor David Benson.

Other events include a rugby tournament at Blackweir Fields featuring Cardiff Lions RFC – Wales’ first gay rugby team. The grand finale will be a concert at the Millennium Stadium on the Saturday evening.

Cardiff Council’s Marketing and Tourism service area has contributed £5,000 to the event with a further £5,000 coming from Cardiff 2005.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Councillor Nigel Howells, said: “It’s excellent to see the Cardiff Mardi Gras going from strength to strength and once again thousands of people will be visiting our city to join the festivities in this important year for us.

“The party is all about celebrating diversity but it is also a vital part of the bigger picture to combat homophobic hate crime and make the city a safe place for everyone.

“I’m delighted that Cardiff Council is able to support the Mardi Gras once again.�

Cardiff-Wales Lesbian & Gay Mardi Gras is part of Safer Cardiff, a registered charity which is managed by a voluntary committee and works closely with Cardiff Council.