London Pride’s annual festival is returning this Saturday 6th July. Last year an estimated one million people attended the capital’s celebration of the LGBT+ community and this year is expected to be just as huge with around 300 floats signed up for the parade.
Essential Information
Weather Forecast – 18°C – 20°C sunshine with clouds and only a 10% chance of rain.
Price – FREE!
Date – Saturday 6th July
Time – 12:00 – 17:30 (followed by after parties)
Location – Beginning in Portland Place, down Oxford Circus, along Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, Pall Mall and then passing Trafalgar Square before finishing on Whitehall.
What is Pride about?
According to Pride in London’s website, their mission is as follows:
- Be fully inclusive of all sections of the LGBT+ community, free at the point of access
- Provide a celebration of LGBT+ life and a platform to continue the fight for equality and to challenge prejudice
- Establish Pride in London on a sustainable footing and grow the festival over time to serve better the needs of London’s LGBT+ community and promote London as a beacon to the world
The history of London Pride
London’s first official UK Gay Pride Rally came into existence on July 1st 1972, a few years after the Stonewall riots. Approximately just 2,000 people participated and many of which were there to protest the controversy of section 28. By 1983 it was renamed to ‘Lesbian and Gay Pride’ to enhance inclusivity.
Later in the 1990s, the festival became more of a carnival event like the one we know today and in 1996 it was renamed once again to ‘Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender Pride’ and became the largest free music event in Europe.
After a hiatus for several years, ‘Pride London’ was formed in 2004 and every year a political rally is held in Trafalgar Square after the festival to promote fairness, equality and acceptance in our society.
In 2012 the London LGBT+ Community Pride group was formed and granted a contract by Greater London Authority to host the event which is now known as Pride in London.
As you can tell the festival has changed and grown in leaps and bounds since the early days, but there is always progress to be made and that is the goal of Pride!
Who is performing?
The performances will be taking place on a stage near Trafalgar Square and you can pay extra for Parade Grandstand tickets.
Headlining will be Pose star, Billy Porter, supported by RuPaul’s Drag Race, William from A Star is Born and Eurovision/X Factor contestant, Saara Aalto.
Joining them on the Women’s stage are shows from Lloren, Sinitta, Four of Diamonds, Toya Delazy, SuRie, Heather Peace alongside acts from Pride’s Got Talent 2019.
So what are you waiting for? Go get your rainbow colours ready and get out to London this Saturday 6th July to show support and love for the LGBT+ community. It’s time to make the world a happier and more accepting place for everyone.
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