Belfast Pride organisers ‘deeply disappointed’ as NI Civil Service steps back

By Claudia Savage, Press Association

The organisers of Belfast Pride have said they are “deeply disappointed” by reports the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) has chosen not to formally participate in the festival this year.

The event’s co-ordinators argue that “demanding equality for LGBTQIA+ people is not a breach of neutrality; it is a basic commitment to human dignity”.

MLAs from some parties have criticised the civil service’s involvement in pride parades, arguing that it is a political demonstration and breaches their obligation to neutrality.

The NICS is one of Northern Ireland’s largest employers, with nearly 25,000 staff.

The Newsletter first reported that staff had been informed via an internal communication that the organisation was “not in a position to participate” this year due to the “current legal and case law context”.

In 2025, Belfast Pride organisers asked political parties to not attend the parade in an official capacity after Stormont backed a ban on puberty blockers.

In a statement Belfast Pride said it understood the NICS had decided to “withdraw permission for its staff to march as an official block in this year’s Belfast Pride festival”.

“For years, the NICS LGBTQIA+ Staff Network has been a vibrant, vital, and highly valued part of our parade,” it said.

“Seeing civil servants marching openly has long sent a powerful message to the entire community: that our public institutions are spaces where diversity is celebrated, and where LGBTQIA+ staff are safe, visible, and supported.

“To see that visibility rolled back under the guise of “neutrality” is incredibly disheartening.

“Pride is fundamentally about human rights, equality, and the celebration of diversity—principles that should be core to any modern, inclusive public service, rather than viewed as a partisan or political stance.

“Demanding equality for LGBTQIA+ people is not a breach of neutrality; it is a basic commitment to human dignity.

“While we are frustrated by this institutional decision, our message to the civil servants themselves remains unchanged: You are a vital part of our community.

“We know that many individual civil servants are deeply hurt by this decision.

“We want to assure you that Belfast Pride remains your space.

“While you may not be permitted to march under an official NICS banner this year, you are warmly invited and encouraged to join us on the streets of Belfast as individuals, alongside your friends, families, and allies.”

The Executive Office has been approached for comment.