Statement by TUV Equality Spokesperson and Party Secretary Ann McClure:
“In the aftermath of Saturday’s Omagh Pride parade, TUV has been contacted by a number of Christians who were deeply offended by a photograph circulating on social media. The image shows a drag performer posing provocatively beside a text on the wall of Omagh Gospel Hall.
“For many years, it has rightly been recognised that parades in the vicinity of places of worship must be conducted with respect and sensitivity. This principle has been strictly applied to Loyal Order parades alike.
“The same standard must apply to pride parades. Yet what we see time and again is that pride events go out of their way to provoke a reaction from people of faith.
“What happened at Omagh Gospel Hall was a clear display of disrespect. It must be called out — not ignored or excused. The Parades Commission, which regularly imposes conditions on other parades when they pass churches or chapels, must take this matter seriously. I will be raising the issue directly with them and asking for an assurance that conditions will be imposed on pride events this summer in relation to conduct in the vacuity of places of worship to prevent similar offensive behaviour.
“While the pride movement claims to promote respect, compassion, and tolerance, the reality tells a different story. Pride is not so much about love and diversity as it is about the aggressive propagation of a moral and political agenda that many in Northern Ireland do not share.
“The photograph taken outside Omagh Gospel Hall underlines this fact. It is not a celebration — it is a statement of imposition.
“There must be respect for people of all faiths – including Christians.”
Update
Further to the press release above, we have established that the photo in question was shared on the official Facebook page of Omagh Pride here https://www.facebook.com/share/1AR7EGxcBd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Consequently, Ms McClure has written to the Parades Commission and PSNI Chief Constable in the following terms:
The Parades Commission
2nd Floor, Andras House
60 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7BB
Email: info@paradescommissionni.org
15 June 2025
Dear Commissioners,
Re: Disrespect toward Christians at Omagh Pride parade
I write having been contacted by a number of Christians who were deeply offended by a photograph shared on social media following Saturday’s Omagh Pride parade. The image clearly shows a drag performer posing provocatively beside text on the wall of Omagh Gospel Hall.
It has since emerged that the photograph was taken approximately 60 yards from the official parade route. This means that the individual involved went out of his way to approach a place of worship, with the clear intention of causing offence. More seriously, the photograph was then shared publicly on the official Omagh Pride Facebook page — a decision that strongly implies endorsement of this disrespectful act by the event organisers themselves.
For many years, the law has rightly recognised that parades in the vicinity of places of worship must be conducted with respect and sensitivity — a standard consistently enforced for Loyal Order parades. Yet it appears that pride events are granted a different set of allowances.
What occurred at Omagh Gospel Hall was a deliberate and targeted display of disrespect, intended to provoke people of faith. If the Parades Commission imposes conditions on other parades to protect churches and chapels, then the same standard must unquestionably apply to pride events. The photograph outside Gospel Hall underlines this clearly — not as a celebration, but as a statement of imposition.
I request that the Commission:
1. Explains why no conditions were imposed on conduct near places of worship;
2. Confirms that, going forward, pride organisers will be subject to clear conditions protecting places of worship from provocative conduct and
3. Publicly affirms that respect for people of all faiths — including Christians — will be upheld by all parades under your remit.
As you operate under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, with a statutory duty to promote understanding, facilitate mediation, and place restrictions where necessary, I trust you will treat this serious matter with the same rigour applied to any other procession passing a place of worship.
I look forward to your prompt response and assurance that this overt disrespect will not be tolerated again.
Yours faithfully,
Ann McClure
TUV Party Secretary and Equality Spokesperson
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Headquarters
65 Knock Road
Belfast
BT5 6LE
Email: chiefconstable@psni.police.uk
15 June 2025
Dear Chief Constable,
Re: Disrespect toward Christians at Omagh Pride parade
I write having been contacted by a number of Christians who were deeply offended by a photograph shared on social media following Saturday’s Omagh Pride parade. The image clearly shows a drag performer posing provocatively beside text on the wall of Omagh Gospel Hall — a place of worship with longstanding significance in the town.
It has come to light that the photograph was taken approximately 60 yards away from the official parade route. The deliberate movement toward the Gospel Hall by the individual involved makes clear that this was not incidental, but an intentional act to provoke and cause offence. What compounds the concern is the fact that the photograph was then shared by the organisers themselves via the official Omagh Pride Facebook page, suggesting not only forethought but also endorsement of the offence by those responsible for the event.
In any other context, police presence near a place of worship during a public procession would ensure such behaviour was swiftly addressed. Christians in Omagh deserve to know why this was not the case on Saturday.
Accordingly, I ask that the PSNI:
1. Explains what assessment was made of this conduct at the time and whether it was deemed appropriate;
2. Clarifies whether the police consider this behaviour to be in breach of public order or hate crime legislation;
3. Confirms that, going forward, behaviour which targets places of worship will not be tolerated at any public event, regardless of the organisers;
4. Publicly affirms that the same standards of sensitivity and enforcement will apply equally to all events — including Pride parades — when they take place in the vicinity of churches or chapels.
It is essential that Christians do not feel like second-class citizens in their own country — or believe that their faith is uniquely open to mockery with impunity. Police must act to protect all communities equally, and I trust you will take the appropriate steps to ensure this standard is upheld.
Yours faithfully,
Ann McClure
TUV Party Secretary and Equality Spokesperson