Murphy the cat joins parade of Gay Purr-ride

Murphy the cat joined hundreds of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people for the annual Oxford Pride parade on Saturday.

Men, women and youngsters blew whistles and wore eye-catching outfits, as they proudly marched through the city centre, while Murphy had a more leisurely way of making it around the route.

Partners Charlie Wand, 21, and Harriet Thomson, 20, took Murphy along to join in the fun.

Miss Thomson said: “She was meant to walk, but it’s too wet, so I’m carrying her in my bag.”

The crowd meandered its way from Cornmarket Street, through Bonn Square and Oxford Castle before finishing at Oxpens Field, next to the Ice Rink.

The entertainment included live music and a fair.

Saturday’s second annual parade was part of the seventh Oxford Pride festival. This year’s was the first to extend its one day event over 10 days.

Miss Wand, a chemistry student at Oxford University, said: “It is so important to be noticed.

“People often assume that we’re sisters or that we should be with a man.”

The weather affected turnout but about 200 revellers did not let the heavy rain spoil the fun.

Many wore costumes inspired by the theme of flower power and the 1969 New York Stonewall riots – regarded as a defining moment in the modern gay rights movement.

John Pierce, 62, and partner Sidney Bemment, 70, from London, said they had been to all of the Oxford Pride festivals.

Mr Pierce, who dressed as Isis, the Queen of the Thames, said: “It’s quite nice to see the gay community growing together.

“I was up at 5am getting the costume ready. I enjoyed marching. It shows we’re here to stay.”

Alan Richards, from Dudley, made sure he didn’t go unnoticed. The 56-year-old wore a home-made cockatrice costume.

He said: “I go to Pride events all over the country and I make a different costume for each one.”

The festival, which finished yesterday, was opened by Oxford Lord Mayor Mary Clarkson. It cost about £10,000, of which £5,000 was provided by trade union Unison.