Anna Lo MLA said: “I am extremely honoured and proud to have been asked to take part in the Belfast Pride Talks Back event.
“Belfast Pride is undoubtedly one of the annual highlights of the calendar in Belfast and indeed Northern Ireland. I would like to give my warmest wishes to all those who are taking part in any of the events that have been organised this week and especially those who will be taking part in the parade on Saturday.
“I would like to encourage everybody to come to the parade on Saturday. I have no doubt that it will be a hugely successful day.
“I feel very strongly on these equality issues, including the ban on the donation of blood by gay or bi-sexual men. It is completely unacceptable to discriminate like this. I hope that the Health Minister will listen to the comments coming from Belfast Pride and reconsider his decision to have this ban in place.
“The DUP and Sinn Fein have been delaying for too long several key Government strategies such as the Sexual Orientation Strategy, a Single Equality Act and the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Strategy. All of these documents could go a long way to completely eradicate all forms of discrimination towards the LGBT community.”
ENDS