Famous human rights activist Peter Tatchell to join Chesterfield LGBT+ celebration

The walk has been organised to honour the life of poet and philosopher Edward Carpenter – who was born in 1844 and lived as an openly gay man at a time when it was illegal to be gay.

Chesterfield organisers Luke Povey and Coun Ed Fordham have now revealed that Peter Tatchell, who has become famous for human rights campaigns in the UK and overseas, will join them as they celebrate Edward’s life on Sunday, August 30.

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Luke said: “We are pleased to announce that prominent rights activist Peter Tatchell will be joining us on the walk to raise money for the Chesterfield Drop In Centre of Derbyshire LGBT+.”

The walk will head from Chesterfield to the rural Derbyshire village of Millthorpe – a walk regularly taken by Edward himself.

Born in Hove, Sussex, he had lived in Chesterfield before moving to Millthorpe with his partner George Merrill.

The 5.3 mile walk will begin at The Chesterfield Arms, in Chesterfield, at 11am, and finish at The Royal Oak, Millthorpe.

It is being held on the closest Sunday to Edward’s birthday – he was born on August, 28, 1844.

Luke said: “A lot of people ask why there is still a need for LGBT support in these times, they assume that things are now great for LGBT people in the UK.

“Our experience however is the complete opposite. Statistics show us that over the last few years hate crime against LGBT people has dramatically risen and we know HIV infection rates are rising higher every year.”

Peter Tatchell has been campaigning for these rights since 1967.

He lists his inspirations as Mahatma Gandhi, Sylvia Pankhurst, Martin Luther King, and through the Peter Tatchell Foundation, he campaigns for human rights in Britain and across the globe.

Peter was a leading activist in the Gay Liberation Front 1971-74 and in the queer human rights group OutRage! from 1990 to 2011.

Visit Luke’s Justgiving page to sponsor him. He is raising money for the LGBT drop-in centre on Rutland Road.

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