Mardi Gras Axed!

I have just read an article on Pinkpaper.com stating that Mardi Gras in Cardiff has been cancelled this year. Now, I have never been to this particular Mardi Gras, but the few times I have been to Cardiff I have enjoyed myself, normally accompanied by a trip to nearby Newport (and its Greenhouse sauna)! It seems a shame that this capitol city will not have a celebration of it large gay community, especially as this year would have marked the 10th Anniversary of the city's celebrations. Apparently the festival normally attracts about 40,000 people and it is free.

Now, I think that if it is down to funding, which is part of the reason stated in the article, then the organisers should maybe contact high profile Welsh or Welsh-based gay icons to help fund the event. I am thinking of Torchwood stars and John Barrowman in general. John is earning his living currently off of a show based almost entirely in Cardiff City centre and so maybe a gesture from him and the BBC could be made to save this event, on top of which John is fronting a campaign with the logo "Some People Are Gay. Get Over It!" and this event could be a great platform for this message. I may have to have a word with Tim, who works on the show and see what he thinks. If he gets the chance, have a word with the stars or Russell T Davis! I'm sure that would not be possible but you never know, he could drop it into a conversation at lunch or something!

Apart from BBC Wales, maybe help could be gained from other areas such as:

The Welsh football team;

The Welsh rugby team (currently playing so well in the Six Nations) possibly working with predominantly gay teams like Cardiff Lions RFC;

South Wales Police Force (recently named the most gay-friendly employer in Wales) maybe they could provide policing free instead of a donation;

Stonewall Cymru, must have some connections;

The Millennium Stadium could provide facilities, if not the stadium itself for the party;

Princes William and Charles have close ties with the city and so could be tapped up for some money;

Then there are celebrities, many of whom are gay icons and have attended previous events, such as Charlotte Church (partner of Welsh rugby sensation [and gay icon himself] Gavin Henson), Cerys Matthews (who could possibly do with some good publicity after I'm a Celebrity), and Shirley Bassey.

With all these possible resources it seems madness to me that the funding cannot be found from somewhere.