Sparkle Transgendered Festival Wins Government Support

July 27, 2010 - PRLog -- On the weekend of 9th,10th and 11th July Manchester played host to the 6th annual Sparkle Transgender Festival and won the support of the new Government in the process. Attended by over 3,000 transgendered people and their families and friends the occasion once again provided an opportunity for this community to come together and welcome faces, new and old alike, in the UK's foremost celebration of gender diversity

Founded in 2005, Sparkle was initially a one day celebration of all things transgender. Over the last six years it has gone from strength to strength and now runs over three days offering events ranging from welcome parties, talks and workshops to an array of stalls in Sackville Gardens, the festival's focal point. In 2010 it went a step further and became a registered charity. With this growth has been a corresponding rise in public awareness of transgender issues which this year led to recognition of the event from the new Government's Minister for Equalities, Lynne Featherstone, who said:

"Sparkle is an important occasion - where the trans community works together in celebration.

It's wonderful for the community to take time to celebrate the huge steps forward you have achieved. But the Government recognises that too many transgender people still suffer unacceptable discrimination in their daily lives. That's why we will work with the trans community to deliver the first ever action plan on transgender equality next year. ...... As part of this work we will be tackling transphobic hate crime, taking action on transphobia in the workplace and in schools, increasing diversity in civic participation, ensuring public services meet your needs more effectively and fighting for trans rights around the world."

The organisers of Sparkle are grateful to the Minister for her support and look forward to both working with her on the transgender action plan, other initiatives and to inviting her to next year's event.

Overall they are thrilled that Sparkle 2010 was the biggest and best so far and would like to thank everyone who came along and made it a great success!

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To promote equality and diversity for the public benefit, and in particular the elimination of discrimination in relation to transgender people by raising the awareness of the public with regard to all aspects of discrimination in the society and issues and difficulties affecting the lives of transgender people .Sparkle aims to cultivate a sentiment in favor of equality and diversity in particular through celebrating the diversity of the transgender community.

Sparkle organizes, operates and promotes the Sparkle Transgender Celebration, to educate, inform and celebrate all transgender diversity and equality.

Registered Charity 1134725