Politicians were accused of “deeply shameful” “scoring points” on LGBT+ issues as London’s Pride parade took over the center of the capital today.
1.5 million LGBT+ people and supporters were expected to take to the streets for the annual parade, with participation from community groups, sports clubs, artists and businesses.
Ginger Johnson, the most recent winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK, was performing at one and spoke to Sky News before taking to the stage.
“It is deeply shameful that politicians think they can use LGBT+ issues to score points against each other,” said Ginger.
“It’s easy for them to irritate people with conversations like this [whether trans people should be allowed into single sex bathrooms],” she said.
“I don’t think they understand the danger this poses especially to the trans community.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan joins the Pride parade in London. Photo:PA
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“It’s really sad,” said Kelly Panayi, who was watching the parade with his wife.
“Who cares what people are, what they want to do? As long as they don’t hurt each other, why does it matter?”
Kelly Panayi (center) with his wife and friend
People participating in the Dublin Pride parade. Photo: PA
With costumes as far as the eye could see, many people took the opportunity to celebrate the LGBT+ community together.
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Dublin’s Graham Kenny at London Pride
“When I was younger I was a bit scared of being gay in public,” said Graham Kenny, from Dublin.
“Pride is a chance to express yourself and feel safe doing so because everyone is here.”
Revelers line the route as the pride parade takes place on Piccadilly Street. PicAmer Ghazzal/Shutterstock
It’s been 52 years since London’s annual Pride parade began, three years after the Stonewall riots.
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People take part in the 2024 Pride Parade in Trafalgar Square. Photo: Reuters
These riots were triggered by LGBT+ people who were removed from the Stonewall Inn by police in New York, which started the gay rights movement.
Ruby Andrews is visiting from the USA and participated in London Pride
Ruby Andrews was visiting the UK from the US and came to watch the parade. “It’s just fantastic to see how you all are celebrating Pride, the number of people, we don’t see that number [in the US].”
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