Updated Tuesday 30th July 2024
Manchester Pride has received questions from our communities and some artists performing at this year’s Festival in relation to the activities of the headline sponsor of the festival, Booking.com and their property listings in occupied territory.
Manchester Pride stands in solidarity with all those suffering from the devastating war in Gaza and all the innocent people subjected to violence in Palestine and Israel. As a small yet diverse staff team including Muslim and Jewish heritage, we have also been deeply affected by the conflict, we truly empathise and stand with all those affected.
We acknowledge the difficult position our communities are in right now and we want you to know that we have been listening and actively working on how we can best support you.
We're sorry for the anger and distress that this situation is causing. We hear you and we are here for you.
We know it may seem that we have been silent on this important issue but we have been doing the necessary work to address our communities' concerns. This includes recognising the unique challenges and pressures our LGBTQ+ artists and producers are under and consulting with our artist community to create authentic, meaningful support.
We thought it would be useful for us to provide a list of questions that have been posed to us and we’ve done our best to answer them.
Questions from Artists and Performers
Why do you work with corporates and sponsors?
There are two key reasons.
Firstly, in order to deliver our events, activities and achieve our charity objectives Manchester Pride must generate income through commercial revenue streams.
These currently include: Corporate Sponsorship, Event Sponsorship, Commercial Parade Entry Fees, Concession and Trader’s Fees, Event Ticket Sales, Merchandise Sales, All Equals Charter Fees - The revenue generated from our commercial activities is used to deliver our events and initiatives.
Secondly, we recognise the many forms activism can take and working with large private sector organisations places us in a position to challenge systemic oppression with a “seat at the table” where we can influence change in some of the world's biggest organisations.
We’ve created a resource which explains more about the different types of activism that are necessary to achieve social change from shared goals. Having a seat at the table is just one of them.
How do you decide which companies to work with?
We aim only to work with organisations that demonstrate ethical, environmental and social responsibility. We will only work with those organisations that are compliant with UK legal and regulatory requirements.
Prior to entering into an agreement with any new commercial partner or affiliate, an exercise of due diligence is carried out. We take steps to clearly identify the key objectives of the organisation that wishes to work with us.
At least two of the following criteria must be met:
Where an organisation wishes to promote their product or service to our communities through an activation or promotional campaign with Manchester Pride; they must pledge membership to the All Equals Charter - a Manchester Pride initiative designed to help organisations recognise, challenge and end discrimination against the intersectional identities of LGBTQ+ people.
You can read more about our Private Sector Engagement Policy here.
Why is Booking.com a sponsor?
During the process of due diligence with Booking.com it became clear that the organisation is authentically committed to supporting the modern pride movement.
They were able to evidence this through one of the key initiatives they run called Travel Proud. Travel Proud is a programme to help ensure travel is more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people. What this means is they provide hospitality training to accommodation providers to ensure LGBTQ+ travellers unique needs are understood and they receive the same hospitality experience as non LGBTQ+ travellers. Every property that completes the training receives a Travel Proud certification which is highlighted on Booking.com platform to help LGBTQ+ travellers make informed decisions. There are currently around 71,000 properties in 130 countries that are Travel Proud certified. In addition to this, Booking.com has published a Human Rights Statement which demonstrates their commitment to respecting and promoting human rights around the world.
Our engagement with Booking.com is led by their LGBTQ+ colleagues who make up their employee resource group, B.proud.
Will Booking.com remain a sponsor for the Manchester Pride Festival?
UPDATED TUESDAY 30th JULY 2024
Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our values and partnering with Pride organisations is one way we show up for our LGBTQ+ employees and provide support for local communities. Our mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. No matter who you love or how you identify, we believe you should be able to travel, feeling welcome and enjoying the same rights as everyone else. Our B.Proud employee resource group for our LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies is almost a decade old and has more than 2,300 members worldwide, including an active local chapter in the UK led from right here in Manchester. Not only do they organise workshops and seminars throughout the year to promote increased understanding and awareness of topics that are important to the community, but also spend their time volunteering with local LGBTQ+ charities and organisations.
As part of our Travel Proud programme, Booking.com provides free inclusive hospitality training, developed in partnership with HospitableMe (an LGBTQ+ owned and operated business), to help accommodations better understand the challenges of LGBTQ+ travellers and ensure that every guest has a welcoming stay. The training is available in 11 languages and to date, we have provided training to more than 75,000 accommodations worldwide, across more than 130 countries, including nearly 3,000 in the UK and almost 100 right here in Manchester.
Beyond Pride, we also partner with IGLTA (the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association), are a Founding Partner of the new Stonewall National Monument and Visitor Center in New York City, and a global partner of the Global Equality Fund, a unique public-private partnership that brings together like-minded governments and private sector entities dedicated to advancing and defending the human rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ people around the world. We also fund annual research into the continuing challenges for LGBTQ+ people, both while travelling and in everyday life, and work with LGBTQ+ talent throughout the year to further showcase and support the community.
No, Booking.com does not manage or own properties anywhere in the world, including in the West Bank.
It is horrible to see the tremendous suffering and loss caused by the ongoing war in Gaza and the increasing violence in the region. We are saddened by the extreme pain, suffering, and losses that so many people are enduring. Our thoughts are with all those affected, and we sincerely hope for an end to the violence.
Part of our core beliefs as a company is that travel is a force for good. With our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, we believe it’s up to travellers to decide where they want and need to go. If a particular region may be categorised as disputed or affected by conflict, and as a result, may pose greater risks, we include information to help make sure travellers can make their own informed decisions. And this includes encouraging them to check the official travel guidelines of their government as part of their decision-making process.
Booking.com takes this matter very seriously and we continue to monitor the situation closely. We continue working with some of the world's leading experts on these topics to be sure that we are abreast of the evolving landscape, including the potential for any changes or developments in laws that would impact our decision making.
Unfortunately, there are many parts of the world where there is conflict or disputes, which is why we want to make sure travellers are well-informed when making their plans.
If a particular area can be categorised as disputed or impacted by conflict, and as such may pose greater risks, we add information to our platform to ensure that travellers can make a well-informed choice, or at least consult their government's official travel advisories as part of their decision-making process.
In areas that could pose a greater risk for human rights abuses, we conduct due diligence on an individual property basis. In addition to responding to complaints, we run scans for potential negative human rights impacts or actions that are inconsistent with our Human Rights Statement, Code of Conduct, anti-discrimination policy and other relevant policies that we apply globally, and take appropriate action accordingly.
We have confirmed our position that we believe it is up to travellers to choose where they want and need to go many times over the years, and since the outbreak of the war we have increased our engagements with key stakeholders on this topic. We continue to have productive dialogues both internally and outside of our organisation, so that we can hear and understand concerns and explain our position and the related context as best we can.
These decisions are made at the highest level of our organisation and informed by work with leading experts on these topics to ensure that we are aware of any developments that would impact our current decision making.
Our aim in providing information to travellers about listings in areas that may be categorised as disputed or affected by conflict is to be as consistent and neutral as we can globally, and there are unfortunately a number of spots around the world where this is the case. There was no reversal of any public decision, despite what was speculated in the media at that time.
We are aware that Booking.com and many other companies in our industry have been placed on certain lists because of a small number of listings on our platform in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
It is not our domain as a company focused on making it easier for everyone to experience the world to formally recognize countries or states - our aim is simply to provide clear information for travellers to decide where they want to book.
Unfortunately, there are a number of areas around the world that are disputed and/or impacted by conflict. We believe it’s up to travellers to decide where they want and need to go. However, we do think it’s important to provide information on our platform to ensure that travellers can make a well-informed choice, or at least consult their government's official travel advisories as part of their decision-making process. This is a consistent approach we take all around the world.
We continue to conduct due diligence on an individual property basis. In addition to responding to complaints, we run scans for potential negative human rights impacts or actions that are inconsistent with our Human Rights Statement, Code of Conduct, anti-discrimination policy and other relevant policies that we apply globally and take appropriate action accordingly.
Are you going to censor speakers and performers at Manchester Pride?
No. We support the freedom of expression through performance. We recognise there are many world issues that artists may wish to address through their performances. We will not, however, tolerate hate speech nor harmful commentary that threatens the wellbeing of any members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Why does it take you so long to respond to concerns raised by the community?
We’re a small team of people with limited resources. We’re supported by a team of volunteer trustees which means that it sometimes takes us longer to respond to sensitive issues raised.
We don’t want to have just empty words of support, we want to provide action and meaning to our words. And while it may take us longer to respond, we take action immediately.
Is Manchester Pride complicit in genocide?
No.
What else are you doing about this situation?
We’re not at ease with the position we find ourselves in and we have taken decisions to act where we can now and to follow this with a plan to ensure that the concerns raised remain in clear focus for us to respond to and address.
Here are some of the actions we will be taking:
What are you doing specifically to support artists and performers?
As a part of our ongoing support, we’ve been reaching out to artists and community organisers over the past few months to understand the best type of support we can provide in an uncertain time. Based on the feedback received we are developing:
Manchester Pride stands for the most marginalised, we create space to platform communities whose voices aren’t always amplified. And, we will always continue to do this.
Whilst we fully recognise, respect and support any artist’s decision to perform or not perform at the Manchester Pride Festival we’re committed to providing a vital platform in a safe environment. We will continue to listen and respond to the needs of artists and will remain committed to open dialogue which will help us to achieve our shared goals.
We will provide updates on any developments as they occur and welcome further dialogue on this issue.
We want to reassure you that we are a charity which listens. We are always learning and we will continue to take actions that support the needs and priorities of our communities as they evolve and develop.
