Liverpool’s signature festival is looking for new leaderhip in 2019.
Privateer Days executive director Brian Fralic, who has been in the role for years, says he felt it was time to step down.
But Fralic says it’s partially because of harrassment he was subjected to after a local business planned an LGBTQ Pride themed float in this year’s parade.
“There was a lot of negative feedback but the community certainly stood behind them,” says Fralic.
Many parade entrants carried rainbow flags of their own as a sign of solidarity.
Fralic, feels the festival is about community, not just history and says he was disappointed in the negative reactions.
But behind the scenes of this year’s festival something darker was happening.
“I was getting letters from sponsors that were not very nice, I was getting hate mail,” says Fralic.
Fralic, who is gay himself, received threats.
“Negativity is one thing, but you shouldn’t have to go through all this,” he says.
Most of the festival’s executive has quit as well and a meeting will be held in the new year to find new volunteers.
Fralic says the festival is important to the community and he hopes people will come forward to keep it going.
The funding for this year’s event is in place and there are members willing to mentor new volunteers.
Meanwhile, Region of Queens Mayor David Dagley says he’s confident people will step up to volunteer.
“The Region of Queens’ position has been and continues to be at the present time that there are many volunteers in the Region of Queens and many have a passion for various issues including those volunteers on the Privateer Days society.”
When asked whether he thought the municipality would have to step in to help keep the festival going, Dagley said they’re not concerned at present and are sure volunteers will sign up.
Story and photo by Brittany Wentzell
Twitter: @BrittWentzell
