In 1996, the then Birmingham Central Library was criticised by Conservative Councillor John Lines for distributing the Pink Paper, a free UK publication covering LGBTQ issues (1987-2012), calling it “another move towards political correctness”.
It seems Cllr Lines wasn’t too impressed with the library generally, saying “It all started when the Central Library introduced women-only reading tables. Then the policy of buying popular books was changed to promote little known women and ethnic authors. The sooner it gets back to fulfilling its role as a lender of popular books to the general public the better.” The library, however, continued to distribute the paper, and the following week the Pink Paper itself covered the story in its press watch campaign.
Two weeks later, 8 March 1996, the Pink Paper reported exclusively that after reading the story, Midlands-based businessman John Parsons was going to push for Birmingham to have its own Pride festival, following in the footsteps of London and Manchester.
At the time, some of Birmingham’s gay venues organised an annual Five Days of Fun, but Parsons stated: “I would like to see the success of Manchester replicated and enhanced here. Birmingham is the UKs second city and I would expect it to have the second biggest Pride.”
Fast forward a year and with major sponsorship deals secured, council approval and local businesses on board, Birmingham Gay Pride took place as a three-day festival over the bank holiday weekend in May 1997. Event highlights included singers Margarita Pracatan, Sonia, and Luke Goss, and the final of the Mr Gay UK competition was held at the Dome II nightclub (now the 02 academy on Horse Fair).