People wearing the traditional rainbow motifs, as well as face paint and glitter, take part in the event this year – the first since 2019 due to the COVID pandemic. Floats lined Park Lane ahead of the main parade and march through London, with more than a million people expected to line the streets to celebrate the movement. Dubbed “the biggest and most inclusive event in history”, a number of artists will perform on four stages across London, including Emeli Sande, who came out publicly earlier this year. Closing the show in Trafalgar Square will be performer Ava Max, with other artists in the line-up including Israel’s Eurovision winner Netta, pop star Samantha Mumba and American actress Kat Graham. The parade route this year will pay homage to the original 1972 route. Some of the organizers of this landmark event 50 years ago are taking part in this year’s proceedings which will see participants pass major milestones along the way. Speaking to Sky News, Martin, who was on the original course in the 70s, said: “We still have one race to go and certainly a big one internationally. “What happened in Oslo last weekend made it even more relevant – in my own choir, the guy who organizes our Pride march was attacked by homophobes last night and ended up in hospital. “If anything, it shows that what we’re doing today is absolutely relevant … and you see the flags, you see the rainbow as you see this joyful expression of being gay. “But at the heart of it, political activism is everything, that was the point.” All money raised from the commercial partnerships will go directly to the LGBTQ+ community, organizers say, with the Unity Fund, which provides grassroots funding for community projects, a major beneficiary. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 4:27 “The party’s on” at London Pride Read more: LGBTQ+ on screen: We’ve come a long way, but there’s more work to do Pride parade has become ‘too corporate’, says one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ rights campaigners “There is still danger to this community” Earlier, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan warned there was still “danger” to the LGBTQ+ community in London, telling people not to be “complacent” at the event. He said: “We’re back after the last two-and-a-half years or so. This year is the 50th anniversary of Pride, celebrating this community, celebrating the progress that’s been made, but also continuing to campaign and never be complacent. “We saw this time last week an attack in Oslo just hours before that parade where two people died and more than 20 were injured. “So we have to be cognizant of the fact that there’s still a risk for this community of discrimination, bias and violence. But allies like me are really important in supporting this community.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson also welcomed this year’s events, saying in a statement: “It gives me the greatest pride to lead a country where you can love whoever you choose to love. And where you can be free to be whoever you want to be. “That hasn’t always been a given, and it certainly wasn’t 50 years ago. “Marching through the streets in 1972 was an incredibly brave thing, and today we will see thousands of people, friends and families come together again to mark the huge milestone of 50 years of Pride in our capital city.”
