Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 22 October 2021

A BARWELL-based LGBT+ rights campaigner has called for further action to be taken to ensure the rights and equality of all in the communities.

Mathew Hulbert, who served as Chair of the Leicester LGBT Centre for a total of three years, from 2017 to 2020, marched alongside hundreds of other attendees as a part of the Leicester Pride event, on 4 September.

The event marked Leicester Pride’s first in-person event since 2019, as they had to hold their 2020 event online due to the Government guidelines surrounding Covid-19.

Once the march through the city centre had taken place, the festivities continued in Victoria Park, where there were on-stage performances, a host of stalls, fairground rides and refreshment stands.

Whilst at the event, Mathew snapped a picture with Jonathan Ashworth (Labour, Leicester South), pictured, who is the Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary.

Ashworth previously attended 2019’s Leicester Pride event – and has voted in favour of equal gay rights six times in Parliament, according to They Work For You.

Mr. Hulbert helped to co-found the “True Colours” LGBT+ events partnership in Hinckley and Bosworth, which helps to arrange many LGBT+ celebrations and commemorations over the course of the year in the area.

He believes that “there’s still much more to do” to achieve full equality.

He explained: “We’ve come a long way over the past couple of decades, but there’s still a long way to go.

“From full rights and recognition of trans, non-binary, gender fluid and gender non-conforming individuals, to tackling homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and eliminating hate crimes against LGBT+ people.

“As I always say, none are equal until all are equal and whilst Pride is a party it is also always a protest about what is still to do.

“I’ll continue to march and campaign and raise my voice on these issues until the day there is full equality for all.”

The True Colours partnership can be followed on their Twitter account, linked here, which is regularly updated with the events being held in Hinckley and Bosworth across the calendar year.