West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has announced that staff will be allowed to attend Coventry Pride this weekend, just weeks after withdrawing from Birmingham's annual parade. The decision follows a review of the Coventry Pride festival, which will take place across the city on Saturday and Sunday.
The WMAS had previously withdrawn from Birmingham Pride due to concerns over the service's neutrality and potential breach of 'political impartiality'. The service had received legal advice that participating as a public body could lead to a 'reasonable perception' that the service actively supports specific views, which would be 'contrary to the protected beliefs' of other people.
However, the decision to allow staff to attend Coventry Pride has been welcomed by many, with one WMAS worker telling the BBC that it was a 'positive' step for LGBTQ+ staff. 'LGBTQ+ staff will once again have visible backing from our employer,' they said.
The WMAS spokesperson stated that the service had reviewed the Coventry Pride festival on a 'case-by-case' basis and concluded that it was a 'celebration of all that is good about the many and diverse communities in our region, which we fully support'. They added that the service remains committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe, respected, valued, and able to be themselves.