The Manchester Pride festival is one of the largest LGBT events throughout the year and it gets a lot of attention, both positive and negative. However, this year things took a turn for the better as none other than Ian Mckellen showed up to support this movement with his unparalleled charisma and his British charm. As expected, his presence was not something to go unnoticed, and the Chief Executive of the annually festival, Mark Fletcher saluted the actor’s initiative: “We are privileged that Sir Ian Mckellen will be leading the parade through the Manchester City Centre in this milestone year, where we are marking 25 years of charity fundraising events, celebrating the LGBT life in Manchester. Sir Ian is a genuine inspiration for the global LGBT community, not only for his status, as one of the most acclaimed actor in the world, but also for his unwavering dedication to campaigning for LGBT rights.”
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This is indeed a valid point, because Ian Mckellen is known to have supported the LGBT community for years. In an interview for USA Today that took place in July this year, regarding the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage,Ian Mckellen stated: “It is a confirmation that something is being happening in America. Supreme Court has not being introduced the idea of same-gender marriage, it has responded to the arguments that are going for a long-long time, so it is a moment of celebration for all those people who’ve been lobbying and making the case in a very peaceful way, I may say. The gay rights movement is one of the few that has not been violent. After all, it is about love, isn’t it? Changing the laws is relatively easy, but old prejudices die hard and this is what has to be tackled day by day, person by person, family by family, until no one gives a damn what your sexuality is, or who you love, or what you want to do, as long as you don’t harm anybody.”
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Ian Mckellen seemed to have enjoyed himself during the Parade and succeeded in adding a bit more color and joy to the supporting crowd. His dedication, naturalness ayound open-minded thinking is a constant inspiration for countless of people worldwide.
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Expected to host more than 2.500 people, the Parade will follow an approximately one mile route, traversing the city’s centre and continuing on the streets of Manchester.
