Liberate, the charity behind the event, chose Wilde and Lillie Langtry to answer questions from Jersey’s media about what to expect from the parade which falls on 12 September.
The charity, which was founded last year to inform Islanders about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community, believe that Wilde is an ‘icon’ for the LGBTQ community, after being imprisoned for gross indecency in 1895. Meanwhile Jersey-born actress Langtry was a good friend of the author and playwright.
As part of the schedule of events unveiled for the day, is a parade which will feature a char-a-banc coach. It will start from West’s Centre at 12.45 pm and finish with walkers crossing over a rainbow zebra crossing at the Weighbridge.
Following the parade, Heather Peace, a musician and actress who starred in London’s Burning and Waterloo Road, will deliver a key note speech. She will be joined by the two actors posing as Langtry and Wilde.
Yesterday, ‘Langtry’ and ‘Wilde’ said that they were pleased to see that Jersey was now ‘on the same page’ as the rest of the world in terms of the LGBTQ community, adding that the event had come at the right time following the recent same-sex marriage legislation in America.
Vic Tanner Davy, treasurer of Liberate, said: ‘We could not pass up the opportunity of asking Mr Wilde to make a speech. He is an icon, in the true sense of the word for the LGBTQ community having been imprisoned in 1895 for gross indecency – or as Mr Wilde put it at his trial “the love that dare not speak its name”.
Islanders will be able to enjoy live music and family entertainment throughout the day, as well as food and craft stalls until 8 pm.
