London Pride has returned to the capital for the first time since 2019, marking 50 years since the first parade in 1972.
More than one million people are expected to flock to the capital for the parade, which starts at 12pm on Saturday (July 2).
According to organizers, 30,000 people have registered to join the march from more than 600 groups of the LGBT+ community.
The parade is “an opportunity to express celebration, joy and triumph, but also the voice to properly express the ongoing struggle for those injustices and inequalities that exist in our midst,” Pride said in London.
Marchers today will call on the UK government to ban conversion therapy for all LGBT+ people, reform the Gender Recognition Act and ensure equal protection for LGBT+ communities against hate crime.
They also call for an end to the “hostile environment towards minority migrants” and for a national AIDS memorial to commemorate those who died during the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
The Independent is an official publishing partner of Pride in London 2022.
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Dame Kelly Holmes attended Pride in London after coming out this year
Dame Kelly Holmes is at this year’s Pride in London.
The Olympic champion came out as gay in June aged 52, telling the Sunday Mirror that she first realized she was gay when she was 17.
But she remained silent for fear of being brought to justice when same-sex relationships were banned in the force.
She posted a photo of herself wearing a brightly colored outfit on Instagram and wrote in the caption: ‘Let’s do this. Pride in London here I come!’
Dame Kelly added the hashtag #beingme to her post.
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Celebrants soak up the atmosphere
More than a million people will gather in London today for the 50th anniversary of Pride.
Pride took place on 1 July 1972 in the capital and was a carnival-like parade of protest against the inequalities faced by LGBTQ+ people at the time.
Here, crowds line the streets around Picadilly Circus to celebrate.
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Matt Matters July 2, 2022 2:45 pm
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This is what it was like to march in the first Pride
As Pride in London celebrates 50 years since the first march in 1972, Peter Tatchell writes about what it was like to be there.
Read about his experience below:
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“We’re here, we’re weird, and we’re not going shopping”
Padraigin Ni Raghillig, president of Dykes on Bikes London, a gay women’s motorcycle club, rode her Harley Davidson at the head of the parade.
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She told the PA news agency that it felt “fantastic” to be back after the lockdown and that it was important for the community to come out together at least once a year.
(AFP via Getty Images)
She said: “I think there’s often a lot of debate about commercialism and it not being a protest anymore, but I think there’s still an element of protest and, obviously, celebration, and as we move forward and become more visible and have more rights and equality, potentially it’s still important, I think, at least once a year to go out and say “we’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not going to shop.”
“I think there’s still homophobia, I think it’s like with a lot of things, when it becomes more visible, the negative side of things gets pushed more illegally.
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“I think homophobia used to be more overt and I think it’s probably quite servile now and so it’s really important that we’re here and we’re here and we continue to thrive as a community.”
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How was the annual Pride event founded?
The LGBT+ community gathers around the world every June to celebrate Pride Month, and for many it culminates in Pride parades.
Although events actually take place throughout the summer, June was chosen to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that broke out in Greenwich Village, New York, on June 28, 1969, after police raided one of the city’s most popular gay clubs , prompting regulars to strike back boldly in protest.
Find out all about how the event came about and what events are taking place in the UK:
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The first gay married-at-first-sight British couple to march in London’s Pride
The first gay couple on the UK’s hit reality series Married At First Sight will march in London’s Pride parade to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
Matthew Jameson and Daniel McKee became the first gay couple to star in the Channel 4 show in 2021.
Learn more about their campaign:
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What is the theme of Pride in London 2022?
Pride in London marks 50 years since the first march in the capital in 1972.
In collaboration with WPP, an organization that campaigns for LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace, #AllOurPride commemorates key historical events that have improved diversity in the UK over the past five decades.
Saman Javed explains what the theme means:
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The cast of Heartstopper spotted at Pride in London
The cast of Netflix’s teen comedy drama Heartstopper have been photographed taking part in London’s Pride parade.
The cast of Heartstopper (L-R) Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Toby Donovan and Sebastian Croft attend Pride in London
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The hit show’s stars Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Toby Donovan, Sebastian Croft, Kizzy Edgell and Corinna Brown were photographed smiling and sitting on each other’s backs, wrapped in LGBT+ flags.
The cast of Heartstopper (L-R) Jo Locke, Jenny Walser, Kit Connor, Sebastian Croft, Toby Donovan, Corinna Brown and Kizzy Edgell attend Pride in London 2022.
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Heartstopper is a British coming of age series that follows the budding romance between Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Keith Connor) as they date through high school.
Joe Locke attends Pride in London 2022
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The Independent’s Voices team attended Pride in London
The Independent Voices own team is at Pride in London.
Victoria Richards and Harriet Williamson march alongside other LGBT+ campaigners and activists, flying The Independent Pride flags as well as the flag of Ukraine.
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Crowds gather as Pride begins
Thousands of people gathered in central London to show their support for LGBT+ people and watch the London Pride Parade as it kicked off.
Many arrived dressed in rainbow colored clothing, accessories, hair colors and more, waving flags and cheering as the marchers passed.
(PA)
(Getty Images)
(PA)
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