It S Amazing Young And Old Celebrate Pride In London London

“I try to focus on enjoying it and seeing it as a community gathering where you can be whoever you want to be,” he said. Lesbians & Gays Support the Immigrants’ Protest at Piccadilly Circus. Photo: Amy Walker/The Guardian After following the parade for a few hours, the plan for his first Pride was to head to Trafalgar Square for live music and a night out in Clapham, south London. “I have more comfortable shoes in my bag,” she admitted. With the parade led by the Gay Liberation Front, which organized the first protest in the UK in 1972, the event was celebrating its 50th anniversary – it was also the first Pride for two years after a break due to Covid. “It’s amazing to be back, everyone is happy,” said Patricia Rockham, 29, who was accompanied by a Jack Russell wearing a Pride bandana. “For me it’s about visibility and representation, seeing people like you – it’s like a safe space. Festival decorations at London Pride. Photo: Henry Nicholls/Reuters “It is both a protest and a celebration. We’re here today to celebrate, but it’s off the backs of those who campaigned and it’s important to remember that.” Amber Whiting, 27 – watching the parade from the Haymarket with boyfriend Connor Mathews, 29 – first attended Pride in London 10 years ago. “At the time, I didn’t even know the terminology for bisexuality,” she said. “Over the years, I’ve come to realize that I’m actually pansexual, but I still get stigma from friends who ‘jokingly’ say I’m just indecisive. This is where I feel represented.” Having been to three other annual Pride events, he noted that this year’s felt less “commercial,” with more focus on LGBTQ+ groups marching together than branded floats with minor celebrities. “It feels bigger. I feel like everyone here is enjoying it and they’ve missed it – it’s nice to be back,” he said. Sadiq Khan said Pride in London was about celebrating the progress that has been made, “but also to keep campaigning and never to be complacent”. Photo: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images While the throngs of young people, dressed in festival finery, were not lost on Saturday, many proud veterans were also in attendance. Winston Woodfine, 59, dressed in a Nike cap, Ralph Lauren tracksuit and trainers, said this year would be a more “low-key” affair for him. “I used to dress up with friends, but some of them are no longer with us and some of them have moved away,” she said. But he added that he believed the event itself was no less important. “With every anniversary, it’s nice to give thanks [the campaigners] for what they have done, while acknowledging that there is still a long way to go. We see Pride as such a big gathering, but there can also be people who are single or just going out, and this is a place where they can meet people or learn about support,” she said. Uniformed Metropolitan Police officers did not take part in this year’s parade in the wake of inquests which concluded that police failings “probably” contributed to the deaths of young men murdered by serial killer Stephen Port. Woodfine described the decision as a “disgrace”. “It’s important to be inclusive. We need them and they need us,” he said. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said there was still a “risk” for the LGBTQ+ community of “discrimination, bias and violence” and warned against being “complacent”. He said: “This year is the 50th anniversary of Pride, celebrating this community, celebrating the progress that has been made, but also continuing to campaign and never be complacent.” London Pride participants get into the spirit of the event. Photo: Henry Nicholls/Reuters As the event took over the center of the capital, floats blaring dance music, groups of passers-by looked on from the sidelines. Adam, 60, an NHS worker, said he and his friend Marcus, 55, who works in construction, came across the incident while on a day trip. “It’s just fantastic. Everyone is having a good time. I’m from rural Lincolnshire and you just wouldn’t see that in a small town,” he said. Many of those the Observer spoke to at the event noted that there is still room for improvement when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights. “It was really good to see that almost every float and flag includes the trans flag,” said a 25-year-old man who did not want to give his name. The main thing he missed from the event, he added, was being able to wear glitter on his face in public. Rosy, 23, a bisexual student attending her first Pride parade, pointed to a group of Christian anti-LGBTQ+ protesters across the street. “A bit disappointing, but it shows how important this still is,” he said, adding that a gay couple had defiantly “squealed” in front of them.

title: " It S Amazing Young And Old Celebrate Pride In London London " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-30” author: “Howard Jackson”

“I try to focus on enjoying it and seeing it as a community gathering where you can be whoever you want to be,” he said. Lesbians & Gays Support the Immigrants’ Protest at Piccadilly Circus. Photo: Amy Walker/The Guardian After following the parade for a few hours, the plan for his first Pride was to head to Trafalgar Square for live music and a night out in Clapham, south London. “I have more comfortable shoes in my bag,” she admitted. With the parade led by the Gay Liberation Front, which organized the first protest in the UK in 1972, the event was celebrating its 50th anniversary – it was also the first Pride for two years after a break due to Covid. “It’s amazing to be back, everyone is happy,” said Patricia Rockham, 29, who was accompanied by a Jack Russell wearing a Pride bandana. “For me it’s about visibility and representation, seeing people like you – it’s like a safe space. Festival decorations at London Pride. Photo: Henry Nicholls/Reuters “It is both a protest and a celebration. We’re here today to celebrate, but it’s off the backs of those who campaigned and it’s important to remember that.” Amber Whiting, 27 – watching the parade from the Haymarket with boyfriend Connor Mathews, 29 – first attended Pride in London 10 years ago. “At the time, I didn’t even know the terminology for bisexuality,” she said. “Over the years, I’ve come to realize that I’m actually pansexual, but I still get stigma from friends who ‘jokingly’ say I’m just indecisive. This is where I feel represented.” Having been to three other annual Pride events, he noted that this year’s felt less “commercial,” with more focus on LGBTQ+ groups marching together than branded floats with minor celebrities. “It feels bigger. I feel like everyone here is enjoying it and they’ve missed it – it’s nice to be back,” he said. Sadiq Khan said Pride in London was about celebrating the progress that has been made, “but also to keep campaigning and never to be complacent”. Photo: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images While the throngs of young people, dressed in festival finery, were not lost on Saturday, many proud veterans were also in attendance. Winston Woodfine, 59, dressed in a Nike cap, Ralph Lauren tracksuit and trainers, said this year would be a more “low-key” affair for him. “I used to dress up with friends, but some of them are no longer with us and some of them have moved away,” she said. But he added that he believed the event itself was no less important. “With every anniversary, it’s nice to give thanks [the campaigners] for what they have done, while acknowledging that there is still a long way to go. We see Pride as such a big gathering, but there can also be people who are single or just going out, and this is a place where they can meet people or learn about support,” she said. Uniformed Metropolitan Police officers did not take part in this year’s parade in the wake of inquests which concluded that police failings “probably” contributed to the deaths of young men murdered by serial killer Stephen Port. Woodfine described the decision as a “disgrace”. “It’s important to be inclusive. We need them and they need us,” he said. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said there was still a “risk” for the LGBTQ+ community of “discrimination, bias and violence” and warned against being “complacent”. He said: “This year is the 50th anniversary of Pride, celebrating this community, celebrating the progress that has been made, but also continuing to campaign and never be complacent.” London Pride participants get into the spirit of the event. Photo: Henry Nicholls/Reuters As the event took over the center of the capital, floats blaring dance music, groups of passers-by looked on from the sidelines. Adam, 60, an NHS worker, said he and his friend Marcus, 55, who works in construction, came across the incident while on a day trip. “It’s just fantastic. Everyone is having a good time. I’m from rural Lincolnshire and you just wouldn’t see that in a small town,” he said. Many of those the Observer spoke to at the event noted that there is still room for improvement when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights. “It was really good to see that almost every float and flag includes the trans flag,” said a 25-year-old man who did not want to give his name. The main thing he missed from the event, he added, was being able to wear glitter on his face in public. Rosy, 23, a bisexual student attending her first Pride parade, pointed to a group of Christian anti-LGBTQ+ protesters across the street. “A bit disappointing, but it shows how important this still is,” he said, adding that a gay couple had defiantly “squealed” in front of them.