Pride in London
(Picture: PA Archive)Singers Emeli Sandé, Ava Max, and Eurovision winner Netta are among the stars set to perform at Pride in London 2022, the organisation has announced.
Hundreds of thousands of people are to descend on the capital’s streets for this year’s event which marks 50 years since the first UK Pride march took place in 1972 in London.
Four stages in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Golden Square and Dean Street will play host to more than 100 performers including stars and famous faces from the LGBT+ community.
It is the first time the event has been held since the pandemic.
Among those entertaining parade-goers on July 2 include RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winners, The Vivienne, and Lawrence Chaney, and fan favourites, Tia Kofi and Victoria Scone.
Other names also set to perform include Irish pop singer Samantha Mumba, and Long Hot Summer singer Kat Graham, who are set to appear on the Trafalgar Square stage.
Meanwhile, the event’s stage in Leicester Square will be dedicated to showcasing women, non-binary, and trans entertainers and performers, said the organisation.
Those performing include July Jones, Eddy Luna, and Krystal Lake among others.
Pride in London’s calendar of events throughout Pride month in June kicked off with a gig at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday which featured Calum Scott and Hayley Kiyoko.
Money raised from the event is going towards Pride in London’s Unity Fund which has already raised £125,000 from an initial target of £75,000.
Among the causes the charitable fund has supported are House of Rainbow which offers a safe place for LGBT people of faith, and advocacy group Black Trans Alliance.
“We’re very excited to be able to contribute, not just by putting on a big parade for Pride, but putting money towards organisations that are doing good, not just in London but further afield,” said Haven Thorn, a Pride in London spokesperson told the Standard earlier this month.
While there has been significant progress since 1972, the group’s volunteers have said more needs to be done to eradicate homophobia and transphobia.
Among the issues the event will highlight is the need for a full conversion therapy ban for all LGBT people and for better protections for LGBT people against hate crime.
