On Wednesday September 19, after weeks of negotiations, Pride’s Fairday liquor license was approved. The approved proposal was Pride’s third attempt at licensing. The first application was to license the whole ground, and Pride opted to re-apply and divide the ground into licensed and unlicensed areas to ensure GLBT youth could access Fairday without a parent or guardian.
The approved proposal licenses a quadrangle in Russell Square with a maximum capacity of 2000. Under 18s are not permitted in the licensed area unless accompanied by a parent or court appointed guardian. BYO will be permitted in the licensed area, but the police have stipulated there are not to be any glass bottles on site.
Male Co-President Dean Cahill on behalf of Pride said, ‘We hope that the community can understand the license approval is for everyone’s safety and we ask that everyone adheres to the stipulations that have been put down.’
While the division of Fairday grounds into licensed and unlicensed areas has caused some to complain that it will hinder the social nature of the day by restricting alcohol consumption to one small area, the decision was made to ensure that ‘the younger generation has an opportunity to experience this fun-filled day’, according to Mr. Cahill.
Dani Wright, coordinator of the Freedom Centre, expressed her pleasure at Pride’s decision and the license approval.
‘It’s fantastic that they have made the extra effort to make sure that young people can access all of the stall areas. Obviously some young people haven’t come out to their families, and they wouldn’t have been able to come under the previous arrangement. We have had young people make their first contact with Freedom Centre at Fairday, so I think it is just vital that they have access to the event.’
Pride reminds people to have photographic ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, with them on the day, as there will be certified bar staff and security checking ID.
