DATE: Thursday 4 July, 7.30pm
VENUE: Europa Hotel, Belfast

House of Commons Speaker, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, will deliver the Amnesty International Pride Lecture next month in Belfast.

The free lecture, on ‘Human Rights and Human Wrongs’, is to take place at Belfast’s Europa Hotel on Thursday 4 July, part of Amnesty International’s programme of events during Belfast Pride Festival, which starts on June 28th.

Although Mr Bercow’s role as Speaker of the House of Commons requires him to act impartially and not comment on party political affairs, he is a well-known supporter of LGBT rights and has included rainbow colours, pink triangles and the motto “All are equal” in his official coat of arms as Speaker of the House of Commons.     

Mr Bercow is also the Honorary President of the Kaleidoscope Trust, which works to help LGBT people and rights movements around the world. It does this by encouraging the UK Government, the Commonwealth, the EU and others to fight anti-gay prejudice and discrimination, especially that experienced by those who live in the 78 countries where homosexual activity is illegal or where it is impossible for LGBT people to live openly and safely.

Mr Bercow said:

“I am very pleased to be coming to Belfast at the invitation of Amnesty International and to offer my support to the Belfast Pride Festival.

“Such festivals are especially important to allow us to stand in solidarity with those who are denied such basic freedoms. It is important to remember that discrimination, abuse, threats, incarceration, violence, torture and death are still very much part of the daily diet that is meted out to many LGBTIed people in countries across the world.”

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Programme Director of Amnesty International, said:

“Amnesty is delighted to host Speaker of the House of Commons at this year’s Belfast Pride. John Bercow has been a positive voice at the heart of UK politics in speaking out against discrimination and persecution of LGBT people around the world.

“Violence, persecution and discrimination are still facts of life for millions of LGBT people. With the Speaker's help, this year Amnesty will be asking Belfast Pride supporters to take action for justice in the cases of two people murdered in South Africa and Turkey, both apparently because of their sexual orientation.”