TUV challenges Omagh Pride over photo deemed disrespectful to Christians

A photo published on Omagh Pride’s social media.

The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) has strongly criticised organisers of Omagh Pride after a photo showing a drag performer posing outside a place of worship was shared on the event’s official social media.

The image, which surfaced following Saturday’s parade in Omagh, depicts a drag performer posing beside a scripture text on the wall of Omagh Gospel Hall.

The TUV’s Equality Spokesperson and Party Secretary, Ann McClure, issued a public statement condemning what she called “a clear display of disrespect.”

“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,” said Ms McClure.

“The image shows a drag performer posing provocatively beside a text on the wall of Omagh Gospel Hall.”

McClure highlighted what she sees as a double standard in how public events are regulated near places of worship.

“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,” she stated.

“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.”

She went further, alleging that the incident was not accidental but an intentional act of provocation.

“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,” she wrote in a letter addressed to both the Parades Commission and the Chief Constable of the PSNI.

McClure said the decision to publish the image on Omagh Pride’s official Facebook page “strongly implies endorsement of this disrespectful act by the event organisers themselves.”

While Pride events frequently promote messages of inclusion and tolerance, McClure argued that the actions seen in Omagh suggest a different agenda.

“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.”

She added: “The photograph taken outside Omagh Gospel Hall underlines this fact. It is not a celebration — it is a statement of imposition.”

Calling for parity in how all public parades are treated, McClure has urged the Parades Commission to take immediate action. “If the Parades Commission imposes conditions on other parades to protect churches and chapels, then the same standard must unquestionably apply to pride events,” she said.

Her letter calls on the Commission to:

1. Explain why no conditions were imposed regarding conduct near places of worship;

2. Confirm that future pride events will include restrictions to protect religious premises; and

3. Publicly affirm that respect for people of all faiths — including Christians — will be upheld in all parades under its remit.

“The photograph outside Gospel Hall underlines this clearly — not as a celebration, but as a statement of imposition,” she concluded. “There must be respect for people of all faiths — including Christians.”

As of publication, Omagh Pride organisers have not publicly responded to the criticism.

The Parades Commission and PSNI have also yet to comment on whether the image breaches existing guidelines or if future restrictions will be considered.