A NUMBER of events took place around Oldham at the weekend to mark nation International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) tomorrow (Friday, May 17).

The key date in the LGBT calendar was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally.

In little over a decade, May 17 has established itself the single most important date for LGBT communities to mobilise on a worldwide scale.

The Day represents an annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, opinion leaders and local authorities to the alarming situation faced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people and all those who do not conform to majority sexual and gender norms.

The Oldham events were among one of thousands held worldwide. Rainbow flags will be raised outside Oldham Police Station, Civic Centre and in George Square tomorrow, with an awareness event and the official launch of Oldham Pride 2019 taking place outside Primark on Saturday between 12noon and 2pm.

This event will be hosted by local Drag Queen “Bonna Petite” and will also include performances by singer Jordan Smart and a display from Manchester Gay Gordons.

There will also be information on how to report hate crime within Oldham as well as free sexual health packs and literature from the LGBT Foundation.

Oldham Pride chairman George Campbell said “IDAHO Day is an extremely important day for our community and is time when our communities unite, worldwide, to highlight the discrimination and problems we still face.

"This year we will continue to build on our campaign of 'NO PLACE FOR HATE' in Oldham and educate the public that there is support available to anyone who experiences any sort of hate crime and in particular the availability of third party reporting centres. This is a theme that will continue into Oldham Pride and this years event will also be launched on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Oldham’s trio of MPs joined forces at the event to celebrate everything that’s brilliant about the town.

Angela Rayner (MP for Ashton, Droylsden and Failsworth), Jim McMahon (Oldham West and Royton) and Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) talked to shoppers in the town centre on Saturday alond with local councillors.

Ms Rayner said: “Politics can be really serious and heavy at times so me, Jim and Debbie wanted to spread a bit of positivity and remind people why they should be proud of their town. It was great to see the town centre so busy and vibrant and it’s given me hope that the town will continue to reject those that seek to divide us.”

And Ms Abrahams said: “We all have so much in common so, during these turbulent times, it was lovely for us as MPs to take time-out to get together with colleagues and friends to celebrate everything that’s great about Oldham and Saddleworth.”