By Q Radio News
Belfast's Lord Mayor says "giving people their rights and equality hurts no one."
It comes as tens of thousands of people are expected to line the streets of the city at the annual Pride march later.
They wll reiterate calls for same-sex marriage to be brought in in Northern Ireland, the only part of the UK and Ireland where it's not legal.
Calling on people to support change, Deirdre Hargey told Q Radio: "My theme for the year's around rights and equality. Giving people their rights and giving them equality hurts no-one. In society it actually enhances us all as a people and as a city".
Ms Hargey suggested she would be "more than happy" to facilitate discussions between supporters and opponents of LGBT rights.
She said: "it's only when we sit down in dialogue with one another we break down any barriers or misconceptions or myths that we have and we start to see people as people and build relationships".
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