McGuinness launches gay pride festival in Derry
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has officially launched this year's gay pride festival in his home city of Derry.
The city's famous 'Free Derry' gable wall has been painted pink for the festival, which gets underway on August 13th.
The organisers say there is also a serious side to the event and they will be trying to highlight their continuing battle for equality.
Last year, there was an upsurge in homophobic attacks in Derry and Mr McGuinness says he hopes the gay pride festival will help educate people about the difficulties faced by gay people in all parts of Ireland.
Last month, the Sinn FĂ©in MP criticised comments in which Ian Paisley Jnr said he was repulsed by homosexual activity and gay people didn't care about the effect they had on society.
