Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
BBC News - September 1, 2009
Councillor Paul Fairweather, who has campaigned for gay rights for many years, told festival-goers at the end of the city's Pride celebrations.
Thousand of people attended the annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) festival.
"We have to beat the stigma and the nonsense surrounding this," he said.
Mr Fairweather, who represents the Harpurhey ward, said: "We can never put pressure on anybody to reveal their status, it's an incredibly individual, personal thing.
'Rejection and hostility'
"I cannot stand here tonight and talk about being positive without the love and support of my family, friends and colleagues.
"Many of us have this love and support, but many of us don't.
"I and many other HIV positive gay men have experienced rejection and even hostility from within the gay community, as well as support."
The councillor is a high profile member of the city's LGBT organisation and has spoken at many events.
There were more than 70 floats representing businesses, organisations and community groups, including Age Concern and the International Transgender Celebration, during the weekend's festival.
The parade started at Liverpool Road, Castlefield, and moved through the heart of the city, via Deansgate, St Anne Street, Cross Street, Princess Street and into the Gay Village.
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