Quakers’ concern over arms dealers at Pride
‘It is absolutely not OK for companies to celebrate Pride with one hand and sell weapons to countries who oppress LGBTQ+ people with the other.'
Quakers have expressed disappointment that some Pride events are still sponsored by arms companies. BAE Systems, a leading arms dealer, was a sponsor of several Pride events, including Leeds and London, this summer. In 2019, BAE Systems sponsored at least three Pride marches in the UK.
According to the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), there was a bloc representing BAE at London Pride on 2 July 2022.
It said that the armed forces are staging military marches by parading at the front of Pride marches, as well as running recruitment stalls at LGBT+ events.
Quaker Rainbow told the Friend that it has been concerned for some time, which is why the group is no longer involved in the events.
Elinor Kershaw, a member of the clerking team for Quaker Rainbow, told the Friend: ‘In recent years we have been reflecting on our corporate involvement in Pride events sponsored by arms companies and have stopped attending London Pride with a Quaker presence for this reason. We welcome the perspectives of Friends on this if they wish to share them with us.’
Members of the No Pride in War campaign have accused the company of trying to ‘pink-wash’ their image, given its role in arming homophobic regimes around the world. The PPU, a co-founder of the campaign, said that BAE’s biggest customers include Saudi Arabia, ‘where LGBT+ people are routinely locked up, tortured and killed’.
Elinor Kershaw said: ‘To hear of connections with likely violence against LGBTQ+ people from those companies who claim to support LGBTQ+ rights is concerning. Whilst we do not expect to agree on matters of military armament and development, we still call on these companies to consider their ethical positions with regard to condoning oppression and discrimination through their supply of equipment.’
The PPU has said that it has heard from LGBT+ people in the Leeds area who are dismayed that organisers of Leeds Pride have accepted sponsorship from an arms company.
Ellie Terry, an LGBT+ rights activist, said: ‘It is absolutely not OK for companies to celebrate Pride with one hand and sell weapons to countries who oppress LGBTQ+ people with the other. We demand liberation for all LGBTQ+ people everywhere and will not have our struggle used for corporate PR and rainbow-washing.’
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