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Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes and singer Emeli Sandé are among those attending the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride parade.
The athlete and songstress, both of whom recently came out publicly as gay, shared their excitement at being part of what the London Mayor’s office described as the biggest Pride in the capital ever.
Pride in London returned to the capital for the first time since 2019, celebrating 50 years since the very first march took place in 1972.
More than one million people attended the parade which began at 12pm today.
Those marching today will called on the UK government to ban conversion therapy for all LGBT+ people, reform the Gender Recognition Act, and provide equal protection for LGBT+ communities against hate crime.
They also campaigned for an end to “hostile environment towards minority migrants”, and for the establishment of a national Aids memorial to remember those who died during the HIV and Aids epidemic.
The Independent is the official publishing partner of Pride in London 2022.
Crowds gather as Pride gets underway
Thousands of people have gathered in central London to show their support for LGBT+ people and watch the Pride in London parade as it gets underway.
Many have arrived decked out in rainbow-coloured clothing, accessories, hair colours and more, waving flags and cheering as marchers go past.
The Independent’s Voices team attends Pride in London
The Independent’s very own Voices team is at Pride in London.
Victoria Richards and Harriet Williamson are marching alongside other LGBT+ campaigners and activists, waving The Independent’s Pride flags as well as the Ukraine flag.
Say hi if you see them!
Cast of Heartstopper spotted at Pride in London
The cast of Netflix teenage comedy-drama Heartstopper have been photographed taking part in the Pride in London parade.
The popular show’s stars, Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Tobie Donovan, Sebastian Croft, Kizzy Edgell, and Corinna Brown took pictures while smiling and sitting on one another’s backs, draped in LGBT+ flags.
Heartstopper is a British coming-of-age series that follows a budding romance between Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), as they navigate coming out in high school.
What is the theme for Pride in London 2022?
Pride in London is celebrating 50 years since the first march took place in the capital in 1972.
In collaboration with WPP, an organisation that campaigns for LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace, #AllOurPride is a commemoration of key historic events which have improved diversity across the UK over the last five decades.
Saman Javed explains what the theme means:
What is the theme of this year’s Pride?
Parade returns following a two-year hiatus during the pandemic
First gay Married At First Sight UK couple to march at Pride in London
The first gay couple on hit reality series Married At First Sight UK will march at the Pride in London parade to raise awareness for prostate cancer.
Matthew Jameson and Daniel McKee became the first gay couple to take part on the Channel 4 show in 2021.
Find out more about their campaign:
First gay Married At First Sight UK couple to march at Pride in London
Matthew Jameson and Daniel McKee will march with Prostate Cancer UK
How was the annual Pride event founded?
The LGBT+ community comes together across the world every June to celebrate Pride Month, and for many, it culminates in Pride parades.
While events actually take place throughout the summer, June was chosen to remember the Stonewall Riots that broke out in Greenwich Village, New York City, on 28 June 1969 after police raided one of the city’s most popular gay clubs, prompting the regulars to fight back courageously in protest.
Learn all about how the event came to be and what events are taking place across the UK:
Everything you need to know about Pride 2022
Street parades return after two years of pandemic disruption and disappointment
‘We’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not going shopping’
Padraigin Ni Raghillig, president of Dykes on Bikes London, a motorcycle club for gay women, rode her Harley Davidson at the front of the Pride parade.
She told the PA news agency that it felt “fantastic” to be back after lockdown and that it was important the community came out together at least once a year.
She said: “I think there’s often a lot of debate about commercialism and it not being a protest any more, 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, to at least once a year to be out and about, and to say ‘we’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not going shopping’.
“I think there’s still homophobia, I think it’s, as with lots of things when they become more prominent, the negative side of things are pushed more underground.
“I think homophobia used to be more overt and I think it’s probably quite subservience now, and so that is why it’s really important that we’re out here and that we’re saying ‘we’re here’, and we continue to thrive as a community.”
This is what it was like to march at the very first Pride
As Pride in London celebrates 50 years since the very first march in 1972, Peter Tatchell writes about what it was like to be there.
Read about his experience below:
Peter Tatchell: What it was like to march at the first UK Pride | Peter Tatchell
In 1972, we received mixed reactions from the public, some hostile and some supportive – and a lot of curiosity and bewilderment
Revellers soak up the atmosphere
More than a million people are set to gather in London today for the 50th anniversary of Pride.
The pride event took place on 1 July 1972 in the capital and was a carnival parade of protest against the inequalities suffered by LGBTQ+ people at the time.
Here, crowds line the streets around Picadilly Circus to celebrate.
Dame Kelly Holmes attends 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 at the age of 52, telling the Sunday Mirror she first realised she was gay as a 17-year-old.
But she stayed silent out of fear of being court marshalled when same-sex relationships were banned in the forces.
She posted a photograph of herself dressed in a brightly-coloured 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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