First gay pride event for county

The event will include a link-up to a New York bar

Plans are being put in place for Suffolk's first gay pride festival.

The event on 13 September in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, will have a live link to New York to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

The riots started at The Stonewall Inn, and continued for more than three nights and it has been argued, the Gay Liberation Movement was then born.

Rod Flory, from Suffolk Pride, said: "This could be a unique and potentially historic moment."

Mr Flory said: ''This is a key moment for Suffolk Pride.

"To our knowledge, no other Pride or similar event has ever made this live connection.

"This live link-up, to one of the most significant and historic events for gay men and women, fits exactly the vision for Suffolk Pride, as it seeks to be a non-commercial celebration of diversity and tolerance and a chance for people of all backgrounds and sexual orientation to gather in a celebration.''

The event is supported by Suffolk Police, the county council, Outreach Youth, Norfolk and Suffolk Probation, the Criminal Justice Board, the East of England Co-operative Society, unions and other statutory and voluntary organisations.