Is Manchester Pride about to go bust?
Amid claims surfacing this week that performers have not been paid following their latest event in August, a statement from the board of trustees claims that they are currently consulting with financial and legal advisers to determine the best way forward.
The story broke earlier this week when Drag Race UK star Zahirah Zapanta wrote on her Instagram story,
“It is deeply disappointing to share that Manchester Pride has failed to pay me, along with many other artists who performed at the events.
“Despite charging the general public an extricate amount for tickets, our repeated emails and requests regarding outstanding payments have been ignored.”
A collective letter was sent to Pride’s organisers raising concerns over unpaid fees.
The letter said contributors had been met with “automated replies, contradictions, and shifting expectations” and that the organisation had failed to meet its 30-day payment terms.
Drag artist Cadbury Parfait, a Manchester-based member of Equity’s Drag Network, called the non-payment issue “disheartening”, saying:
“it’s disheartening that a pride organisation who regularly talks of championing queer voices would actively withhold payment from queer grassroots performers. I imagine the likes of Nelly Furtado or Leigh Anne received their payment upfront, and yet local performers who continue to keep the scene running throughout the year go without payment.”
A flurry of artists and contractors then revealed that they had also failed to be payed and yesterday the Charity Commission said that it was concerned about the situation
In response to that news Manchester Pride said its board “takes responsibility for our decisions based on advice and guidance”, and hoped to provide more information by 22 October.
There has been much criticism of the enterprise with claims about the amount of salaries paid and the cost of its CEO
While others say it should have remained a community event rather than the huge enterprise it has become over four days across the August Bank Holiday
Meanwhile the Campaigner Peter Tatchell described the news as a “shocking betrayal of trust. What happened to serving the LGBT+ community?”
