LANCASHIRE'S first ever Gay Pride initiative is hitting the streets.

And organisers hope it will help stamp out hatred that is forcing gay people out of towns like Chorley.

Gay Pride has previously been based in Manchester's city centre and 'Gay Village' but the new county wide events -- dubbed Lancashire Pride 2000 -- will give gay people the chance to meet up and support each other.

Organisers also hope that the initiative will lead to more gay involvement in community issues and local life in general, and that local services will respond to their needs.

A spokesman for the initiative said: "Lancashire Pride will give gay people, their families and friends more confidence in the future to demand the respect they deserve.

"Gay communities are not just one little group here and there, they are everywhere in the community, but they are not provided with the same level of care in the wider community as everyone else."

He said that Lancashire Pride were not running many events in Chorley, simply because, like many smaller towns, many of Chorley's gay community will have moved away to other towns where they feel safer -- taking the 'scene' with them.

"I would like Chorley people to realise that there are many people with diverse sexuality living in their town, and for various reasons these people do get persecuted," he said.

"Homophobics are afraid of what they do not understand, but the sooner that fear is eradicated the better."

A website at www.gaylancashire.org lists all the Lancashire Pride events happening round the county in September, including the big 'Picnic in the Park' event at Avenham Park, Preston, on Saturday, September 9, between 1pm and 5pm.

Anyone interested in taking part in the Chorley and South Ribble events can phone Project Oscar on 0800 783 5345 between 6-8 pm Monday and 2-4 pm Wednesday.