Pride in London 2022: huge turnout at first march since pandemic – live updates

Victoria Scone has just performed in Trafalgar square. Scone is best known for competing on the third series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK where she was the first cisgender female contestant on any series of the Drag Race franchise.

Victoria Scone performs in Trafalgar square this afternoon. Photograph: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride In London
Cambridge student Padraig O Siochphradra Presern, 22, from Slovenia, was among the throngs of young people who said this Pride was their first.
Cambridge student Padraig O Siochphradra Presern, 22, from Slovenia, was among the throngs of young people who said this Pride was their first. Photograph: Amy Walker/The Observer

Cambridge student Padraig O Siochphradra Presern, 22, from Slovenia, was among the throngs of young people who said this Pride was their first.

On their first impressions of the event on Saturday afternoon, Presern said: “It’s quite overwhelming, but in a good way.

“I think there are more people here than the population of my entire country.”

After coming with “no expectations”, they and friends planned to hang around into the evening to catch Ava Max at Trafalgar Square.

But despite the festivities, they added that Pride in London was “definitely still a protest”.

“The whole purpose is to say we’re still here, we’re not going anywhere and to highlight that not everyone around the world has these rights.

“There’s definitely still things to work on, including trans inclusivity, outside and inside the community,” added Presern.

If you haven’t listened to it already, do check out our Today in Focus episode from earlier this week, on 50 years of Pride in the UK and why we still need it.

Pride in London should return to its radical roots, says Peter Tatchell

Our reporter David Batty writes:

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has called on the UK’s largest Pride event to return to its radical political roots, saying the 1972 march was about wider social change, not just equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

“Gay Liberation Front, which organised the first Pride, saw itself as part of a wider social movement for the liberation of all oppressed people,” said Tatchell. “We stood in solidarity with women’s liberation, the black and Irish communities, and working class people and trade unions.

“Our goal was not limited to the narrow horizon of equal rights. GLF did not want equality within what we saw as an unjust flawed society. We wanted to change society, not adapt and assimilate into it.”

Labour party leader Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner join in the celebrations in Soho.
Labour party leader Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner join in the celebrations in Soho. Photograph: Niklas Halle’n/AFP/Getty Images

Sadiq Khan says police have been ‘sensitive’ to concerns about uniformed officers

The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said that while officers would be present on Saturday to keep people safe during the celebrations, those taking part in the parade itself would not be in uniform due to the “legitimate concerns” of activists.

The move comes after Peter Tatchell and other LGBTQ+ campaigners voiced concern about the Met’s “homophobic” handling of the investigation into the serial killer Stephen Port. Tatchell said the case showed that “institutional homophobia is alive and kicking in the Metropolitan police” and that it would not be right for uniformed officers to march in the parade.

In previous years, officers from the Metropolitan police have taken part in the parade in their work clothing.

Noah Colton, 18, in attendance as his drag persona Eva More.
Noah Colton, 18, in attendance as his drag persona Eva More. Photograph: Amy Walker/The Guardian

For Noah Colton (pictured above), 18, in attendance as his drag persona Eva More, today’s event was about “acknowledging” the history of Pride on its 50th anniversary, but mostly about having a great time.

“I’m trying to focus on enjoying it, and seeing it as a coming together of the community where you can be who want to be, rather than politicising it,” he said.

Wearing seven-inch silver platform stilettos, the plan, he said, was to walk the entire six-hour March before heading to Trafalgar Square and then Clapham in south London for a drag night.

“I have got more comfortable shoes in my bag,” he admitted.

Many participants are holding Ukrainian flags as they take part in the march.

Pride in London march participants holding flags in support of Ukraine.
Pride in London march participants holding flags in support of Ukraine. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters

A film made by Pride in London for today’s event shows “how far we’ve come in the last 50 years and how far we must go”.

This from my colleague Amy Walker who has joined the parade:

At Marble Arch at lunchtime, crowds of people adorned in flags – both Pride and trans – cheered as parade floats got ready to embark, while dance music pumped out from on-board speakers.

Though many of those with the most elaborate outfits (sky high platform heels and strappy crop tops) were from the younger ranks of the community, plenty of veterans were also in attendance.

Winston Woodfine, 59, dressed down in a Nike cap, Ralph Lauren tracksuit and trainers, said that despite the wait, this year would be a more “subdued” affair for him.

“I used to get dressed up with friends, but some of them are no longer with us and some of them have moved away,” he said.

But he added that he felt the event itself was no less significant.

“With any anniversary, it’s nice to thank [the campaigners] for what they’ve done, while acknowledging there’s still a long way to go.”

“We think of Pride as this big coming together but there also might be people who are lonely, or just coming out, and this is a place they can meet people or find out about support.”

Asked about the absence of uniformed Met police officers marching in the parade, Woodfine described it as a “shame”.

“It’s important to be inclusive. We need them and they need us,” he said.

“We don’t want any division, and god forbid anything happens [at Pride] and we need to call on them.”

What is the march route?

Today’s parade will follow in the footsteps of the original 1972 Pride march. At midday, it kicked off from the first podium at Hyde Park Corner, and is now making its way along the edge of Green Park.

Marchers will then reach the second podium at Piccadilly Circus, where they will turn right and head towards Charing Cross to the third podium at the top of Orange Street.

The parade will travel past the Mall and end at Whitehall at about 6pm.

You can check the parade route map on Pride in London’s website.

Good afternoon, everyone. You’ve got me, Sophie Zeldin-O’Neill, here providing updates throughout the afternoon.

A bit of background on today’s march: Pride in London is back for the first time since 2019, with more than a million people expected to join the march. The major event marks 50 years since the capital’s first Pride march in 1972, and will feature performances across four stages around central London.

Singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé, 2018 Eurovision winner Netta, and pop and soul singer Samantha Mumba will take to the stages.

The parade will close with a “show-stopping” performance by pop superstar Ava Max at Trafalgar Square.

More than 1m people expected to join London’s 50th anniversary Pride celebrations

Over a million people are expected to descend on the streets of London today for the capital’s first Pride celebrations since the pandemic.

Today’s event, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride parade, kicks off at midday at Hyde Park Corner.

Organisers, who have billed the event as the “biggest and most inclusive event in history”, said over 30,000 people have registered to march in the 2022 Pride Parade and over 400 community groups.

It will be led by the Gay Liberation Front, who marched in the first protest in 1972.

Follow the blog for updates throughout the afternoon.

Md Nabir Uddim and Mohammed Nazir, from London, ahead of today’s Pride in London parade.
Md Nabir Uddim and Mohammed Nazir, from London, ahead of today’s Pride in London parade. Photograph: James Manning/PA





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