United Kingdom's first LGBTQ+ Founders' Trade Mission kicks off Americas-wide "Love is GREAT Britain" campaign

UK TO ACTIVATE 29 EQUALITY AWARENESS EVENTS TO INCLUDE PRIDES, FILM FESTIVALS, SPORT AND LGBTQ+ TOURISM FORUMS

TORONTO, June 14, 2019 /CNW/ - The British Government will celebrate LGBTQ+ rights by marching in Prides and hosting LGBTQ+ events in 5 cities in Canada, 14 cities across the US and 5 cities in Latin America, as part of VisitBritain's Love is GREAT Britain campaign.

A major highlight of the campaign is the UK's first-ever LGBTQ Founders' Trade Mission, bringing nine UK-headquartered companies to New York for a bespoke program, timed to coincide with World Pride and aimed at accelerating business growth in North America for LGBTQ business founders.

New activities in Canada this year include marching for the first time in Calgary Pride parade, along with an LGBT film event in Calgary, as well as participating in Community Day at Pride Montreal.

As a leader in LGBTQ+ equality and rights, the UK has proudly celebrated Pride season in the Americas since 2013. Now, UK government leaders have joined with representatives from the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO), the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) and VisitBritain to organize the UK's widest array of business and public engagement events to date.

Susan le Jeune d'Allegeershecque, CMG, British High Commissioner to Canada, said, "The variety of activities and events being organised by our teams across Canada - from Vancouver to Montreal - are a clear demonstration of the importance the UK places on equality and LGBTQ rights. We're honoured to stand with our LGBTQ friends once again."

Paul Gauger, Senior Vice President of the Americas, VisitBritain, said, "Showcasing Britain throughout the Pride season in these cities helps highlight the destination as a welcoming, inclusive, open and accepting place for all people to visit and enjoy. Whether you crave the unexpected or yearn for the undiscovered, VisitBritain's LGBTQ+ campaign 'Love is GREAT Britain' captures 365 days of fun, love, culture and so much more."

NOTES TO EDITOR:

UK's first LGBTQ+ Founders Trade Mission
DIT helps businesses export and grow into global markets and helps overseas companies locate and grow in the UK. Timed to coincide with WorldPride, DIT is hosting the UK's first LGBTQ Founders Trade Mission, a bespoke business program.  Delegates will travel to New York for three days of networking events, roundtable discussions, introductions to business leaders, LGBTQ+ networks and mentors, and culminate with participation at WorldPride March on 30 June alongside British government representatives.

The companies participating in the Mission include: Agent Marketing, Audeliss, Brand Advance, Fusebox Games, GAY TIMES, PingPong Digital, PinkNews, Safehinge and WERKIN.

VisitBritain – "Love is GREAT Britain" Campaign
VisitBritain, the UK's national tourism agency, launched the Love is GREAT Britain campaign in 2014 to welcome marriage equality in England, Wales and Scotland. The campaign highlights Britain as an all-embracing vacation choice for LGBTQ+ visitors, offering unique experiences – from city breaks to countryside escapes – which are easily accessible and open to all.

The official campaign site visitbritain.com/loveisgreat lists an array of choices for the LGBTQ+ traveller, including arts and cultural festivals, including pride events, some of Britain's best gay and lesbian nightlife, plus a vast spectrum of LGBTQ+-owned and welcoming accommodation throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Also featured on the site are LGBTQ+ city guides to London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Bristol, Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, and Brighton.

Britain & LGBTQ+ Rights
The UK has had civil partnerships for more than a decade, and equal marriage became legal in 2014 in England, Wales and Scotland. In 2002, same-sex couples were granted equal rights to adopt. Since 2005, transgender people can change their legal gender in the UK, granting them a new birth certificate and affording them full legal recognition of their acquired sex.

The UK is renowned as one of the most progressive in Europe for LGBT rights by ILGA-Europe, which is a testament to the achievements that have been made. One of the core objectives of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy is increased respect for equality and non-discrimination for all members of society.

Download still images from the Love is GREAT campaign on the VisitBritain Images website

The UK government will participate in a total of 29 LGBTQ+ events and activities in the Americas in 2019-20, including:

• In Canada, the UK will participate in 5 cities: Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver.
• In the US, the UK will participate in 14 cities: Aspen, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Palm Springs, Raleigh, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, DC
• In Latin America, the UK will participate in 5 cities: Mexico City, Santiago, and São Paolo, Fernando de Naronha and Porto Alegre in Brazil.

SOURCE VisitBritain