Guernsey has come "so far" says Pride guest of honour

Monday 05 September 2022

One of the guest speakers at CI Pride has shared her thoughts on the weekend with the world - praising Guernsey for how far it has come as a society since her youth when being homosexual was illegal.

Jayne Ozanne is a gay rights campaigner who works with religious groups to promote equality and inclusivity.

She is Director of the Ozanne Foundation, is a member of Church of England's General Synod and was an LGBT Advisor to the UK Government until she resigned in protest at a lack of progress on banning conversion therapy and other matters on which she has campaigned.

At the time, Ms Ozanne described the UK Government as a "hostile environment" for LGBT+ people.

My speech at #GuernseyPride - encouraging everyone to stand against the Hurling of Silence & Disapproval (and with thanks to @TheDetoxPriest for his inspiration). pic.twitter.com/jhjwGwIuAf

— Jayne Ozanne (@JayneOzanne) September 4, 2022

Having long campaigned for equal rights and acceptance for all people, Ms Ozanne was invited to speak at St Peter Port's Market on Saturday as part of the 2022 CI Pride events in Guernsey.

She later tweeted that she was moved by how far the island has come. She also referenced her own experiences of growing up in Guernsey as a young woman during the 1970s.

This was after the UK had decriminalised homosexuality, and momentum was building to drop the age of consent from 21. Guernsey was yet to legalise same sex relationships, and Ms Ozanne said she would never have believed, as a young woman in Guernsey during the 1970s, that she would ever see so many people gathered for a Pride event like there was before her on Saturday.

Thousands of people had gathered for CI Pride on Saturday, with a march from Candie Gardens to the Market.

There was a 70s theme to the event as a nod to the 50th anniversary of the first Pride held in London in 1972.

Among the many colourfully dressed guests were some famous faces too, with actor Russel Tovey, and Love Island's Andrew Le Page and Tasha Ghourri back in Guernsey for the weekend.