Saturday’s Pride in London march will be a momentous day that is bigger and better than ever, organisers say.
More than 1.5 million people are set to take to the streets of the capital to join the biggest celebration of the LGBT+ community in Britain.
In a message to Londoners Will De’Athe-Morris, spokesman for Pride in London, said: “Come out on the first of July, celebrate with us, wear your finery, make yourself at home because London is open to all. We are so excited to be back out on the streets.”
He added: “Last year was the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march in Britain and it was the biggest Pride march in British history with over 1.5 million people on the streets of London. We expect this year to be even bigger and better.
“It is going to be an absolutely momentous day. There are going to be some amazing surprises and it is a great opportunity to come together and make sure no one ever marches alone.”
As well as being a colourful party extravaganza, with five stages hosting performers including Adam Lambert and Idina Menzel, Pride has historically been a protest as well as a celebration.
Mayor Sadiq Khan, who will lead the parade which starts at Hyde Park Corner and culminates at Whitehall Place, said London’s example of openness and equality can resonate far beyond the borders of this country, to energise activists elsewhere to fight for freedom from persecution.
There are 64 countries that have laws that criminalise homosexuality, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. It says the death penalty is the legally prescribed punishment for same-sex sexual acts in Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and in some northern states of Nigeria.
Mr Khan said: “I can’t wait not only to witness this year’s celebrations, but to see as I do every year, how all those taking part are embraced by Londoners in a spirit of joy, unity and solidarity.
“The annual Pride parade is one of the highlights of my year precisely because it speaks volumes about London’s open and inclusive culture — and the love we have for each other and our city’s precious diversity.”
Mr Khan said that despite advances for LGBT+ rights, there is still work to be done. He added: “We have got to be honest in acknowledging our country isn’t perfect. There are still instances of hate crime committed against LGBTQI+ people. There have been petitions and protests demanding the withdrawal of LGBTQI+ content from schools. And in some quarters, transgender people are being demonised and cruelly weaponised as part of a culture war.”
He added: “Too often, at home and around the world we’re seeing a concerted effort to reverse the gains that have been made on LGBTQI+ rights. In the US, one of the most prominent presidential candidates has brought in bills specifically targeting transgender people. This is why it’s more important than ever that people in positions of power continue to stand up and speak.”
Mr De’Athe-Morris, who was himself the victim of a homophobic attack in South London last year, said: “Here and around the world LGBT+ rights have massively improved and it’s really important we celebrate that. But at the same time there are some serious gaps
“The trans community in particular are having an incredibly difficult time.
“Sometimes when you see a society advance and social norms adjust there’s an elastic band effect, when the band goes so far one way that it snaps back past where it started.” Pride’s 2023 campaign is Never March Alone, which champions the trans and non-binary community.
Mr De’Athe-Morris said it comes at a time when trans and non-binary people face increasing amounts of hatred and negative portrayals. He added: “Among all this beauty we are reminded as to why our campaign Never March Alone matters so much. We need people in our community to know they are not alone.”
The number of hate crimes recorded by police in England and Wales rose by by 26 per cent — to 155,841 in the year to March 2022, Home Office figures show. Hate crimes targeting people’s sexual orientation increased by 42 per cent to 26,152, with crimes against transgender people seeing the biggest rise, with 4,355 reports, up 56 per cent from the previous year.
Mr Khan said he is hugely proud that Londoners are so unwavering in their support for LGBTQI+ rights. He added: “As Mayor of London, I’ve witnessed first-hand the incredible contribution that our vibrant LGBTQI+ community makes to the life and soul of our city.
“London is a better, more creative, more colourful, more caring and more prosperous place because of our LGBTQI+ community.
“That’s why I’ll continue to fight tooth and nail to ensure London remains not just the greatest city in the world, but a shining light for LGBTQI+ rights.”
