Civil service involvement in Pride was a 'monumental error of judgement' by Jayne Brady - Burrows

Unionist parties have welcomed the decision to end official participation on the annual protest marches, saying they are openly political and at odds with the role of the civil service (NICS).

The DUP has hit out at criticism of the move by the Alliance minister Andrew Muir, who suggested it was part of an attempt to “roll back and deny the rights of LGBT people”.

Peter Martin MLA said it has been made “abundantly clear” that the decision was taken by NICS “in light of the current legal and case law context”. The North Down DUP man said every employee “must be treated with dignity and respect” – but an impartial civil service “cannot align itself with political campaigning which ‘Pride’ clearly is”.

UUP boss Jon Burrows has also criticised the Minister Muir’s comments, saying the move was “not rolling back anyone’s rights” – but an impartial public institution should not be taking part in a protest.

He said everyone in Northern Ireland “can be exactly who they are... that is not in question” – and no one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.

“The civil service serves everyone, and it cannot be seen to take sides. The courts have already made that point: last year the High Court found that a police force breached its duty of impartiality by attending Pride.

“The NICS has looked at the same legal reality and reached the only sensible conclusion”.

Mr Burrows said the move “is upholding the impartiality the public is entitled to expect. It was a monumental error of judgement for the Head of the Civil Service to even consider official participation in Pride”.

This week, the News Letter revealed that NICS staff have been banned from taking part in LGBTQ+ parades this summer, as Ms Brady’s organisation U-turned on a previous commitment to take part as “an inclusive employer”.

It came after growing controversy over the organisation’s support for the Pride movement – which has protested on issues such as medical interventions on children and women’s rights to single sex spaces.

When controversy erupted over its involvement last year, Ms Brady’s organisation issued a robust defence – saying the “only reason” they NICS be there was their commitment to being “inclusive”.

Now, staff have been told that “in the current legal and case law context, the NICS is not in a position to participate in Pride events this year in an official capacity, where colleagues would be identifiable as representing the organisation”.

The TUV’s Ann McClure says Pride was always political – and is an event “many in Northern Ireland will never accept”.

“At long last the NICS has woken up to the fact that they cannot disregard the concerns of many of their own staff by engaging in this parade and recognised that they cannot maintain their position on impartiality while taking part in a contentious event.

“Civil servants are entitled to attend Pride as they would any other political event in a personal capacity. What the NICS isn't entitled to do is squander taxpayer money on taking part in an event which many in Northern Ireland will never accept.”

Mr Martin said Belfast Pride chose has explicitly challenged decisions of both the Northern Ireland Executive and the Supreme Court.

“The DUP have consistently highlighted the damage caused to gender dysphoric children by proscribing puberty blockers; in contrast Pride actively supports giving these dangerous drugs to under 18s.

“It appears however the Alliance Party aren’t bothered by a lack of impartiality in the Civil Service, or at least not if it’s focused in a direction they support. Alliance seems to put a greater priority on their ‘progressive’ credentials than the effective administration of our public services.”