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A petition has been launched calling for artists and small companies left out of pocket by Manchester Pride going bust to be given priority when it comes to compensation. Christopher Owen, who is behind the petition , says "many LGBTQ+ artists, suppliers and freelancers" have been left unpaid after the organisation went into voluntary liquidation . He believes they should get money available before larger organisations and corporations. Mr Owen, who has been working as the LGBTQ+ coordinator for 42nd Street, a mental health charity for young people, says: "Many of the unpaid members of our queer communities rely on their payment from Manchester Pride, and have been left in a state of financial insecurity and uncertainty. "Due to the reckless and irresponsible decisions of the Board of Trustees, Manchester Pride has entered voluntary liquidation. This has led to the redundancy of the charity’s staff who have fought tirelessly to support their communities however they could. "Ultimately, queer communities have been hurt the hardest, and now anti-LGBTQ+ voices have new fuel to throw onto the fire of hate and fascism growing in this country." Manchester Pride is one of the biggest LGBTQ+ events in the UK, outside of London and celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year with its foundations first set up back in 1985. The festival is attended by hundreds of thousands of people each year, and attracts big-scale performers, with Olly Alexander, Leigh-Anne and Nelly Furtado headlining just this year alone. But last week, Pride’s organisers announced the company had entered voluntary liquidation - blaming rising costs, a slump in ticket sales and an unsuccessful and expensive bid to host Euro Pride. Manchester Pride’s Board of Trustees said, with ‘enormous sadness’, that the organisation behind the event was 'no longer financially viable' following a decline in ticket sales, rising costs, and the response to an ‘ambitious refresh of the format’ this year, which included a major new stage area outside of the Gay Village at Depot Mayfield. Eight members of staff have been made redundant, and hundreds of artists and suppliers have not been paid. One artist said the situation is so bad they fear they cannot afford a vital medical prescription, with another already considering selling their drag outfits to help support their fellow performers. The M.E.N. understands organisers approached Manchester Council after this year's event for help with existing debts But the board said they could not find a ‘positive solution’ and that they were ‘sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation’. In his petition, Mr Owen is making four demands - saying the liquidation of Manchester Pride must compensate independent LGBTQ+ entities before larger organisations and corporations and larger creditors should absorb losses to ensure marginalised communities are paid. He also says businesses and organisations' should hire and promote impacted LGBTQ+ entities during this difficult time and allies should contribute to fundraisers for local LGBTQ+ community groups and artists and continue to support local queer events'. Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham , has insisted that Manchester Pride will take place next year. Mr Owen says in promoting his petition: "Pride will not end here. Pride is a global social movement for intersectional queer liberation. It cannot die through one charity’s liquidation. It remains alive in the actions of communities to ensure all LGBTQ+ people have fair and equal access to opportunities, rights and freedoms. "And so, to support the economic liberation of impacted communities, we are campaigning to get these queers paid! After the liquidation of Manchester Pride, LGBTQ+ artists, sole traders, small businesses and staff need to be paid NOW! "This petition focuses on the first two of our demands, calling on the liquidator of Manchester Pride Ltd. and the larger creditors owed for their goods and services to prioritise LGBTQ+ communities. We call for queer people to be paid FIRST and for all others to withhold their acceptance of any funds until impacted communities have been compensated." Non-binary drag performer Tequila Thirst told the M.E.N.: "Artist fees can range from £150 to the thousands, but if there's any money left to give out, it'll go to the big contractors and the big named artists first. There's no guarantee we'll see anything.” Molly Monks, insolvency expert at Bramhall-based Parker Walsh, said that now was a 'critical time' for those awaiting payment. She explained: "Now that Manchester Pride has entered voluntary liquidation, it means the organisation has formally recognised it cannot pay its debts and is beginning the legal process of winding down. “Liquidation typically signals the end of a business, unlike administration which was rumoured for the charity last week. An appointed liquidator will take control of the organisation’s remaining assets and attempt to repay creditors in order of priority. “For performers, vendors and contractors still awaiting payment, this is a critical time. Anyone who is owed money from the organisation should register their claim with the liquidator as soon as possible and keep an eye on any updates. Creditors are paid in a strict legal order. Secured creditors like banks are paid first, followed by preferential creditors such as employees. Unsecured creditors, which is the category performers, contractors and suppliers likely fall into, come after that." You can sign here.
