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Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes and singer Emeli Sandé are among those attending the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride parade.
The athlete and songstress, both of whom recently came out publicly as gay, shared their excitement at being part of what the London Mayor’s office described as the biggest Pride in the capital ever.
Pride in London returned to the capital for the first time since 2019, celebrating 50 years since the very first march took place in 1972.
More than one million people attended the parade which began at 12pm today.
Those marching today will called on the UK government to ban conversion therapy for all LGBT+ people, reform the Gender Recognition Act, and provide equal protection for LGBT+ communities against hate crime.
They also campaigned for an end to “hostile environment towards minority migrants”, and for the establishment of a national Aids memorial to remember those who died during the HIV and Aids epidemic.
The Independent is the official publishing partner of Pride in London 2022.
Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner march at Pride in London
The leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party are marching side by side at Pride in London.
Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner walked with members of the LGBT+ community through the streets of Soho.
Starmer wore a black T-shirt with the words “We make Camden PROUD” as he marched, while Rayner wore a rainbow flag tied around her shoulders.
WATCH: Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner march at Pride in London
The best outfits at Pride in London 2022
Pride in London always brings the goods when it comes to LGBT+ fashion.
This year, as the parade returns in full force for the first time since the pandemic, attendees have gone all out with their multi-coloured, expressive outfits.
We round up just some of the best Pride outfits and costumes we’ve seen so far:
The Independent’s Pride marchers meet Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner
Some of The Independent’s team who are marching at Pride in London have met with Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner.
See the friendly meeting below:
Heartstopper stars give middle finger to homophobic protesters at Pride in London
The stars of Heartstopper were seen dancing and giving the middle finger to homophobic protesters at the Pride in London march.
In a clip that went viral on social media, the parade was seen coming into contact with homophobic protesters.
My colleague Isobel Lewis has the full story:
Heartstopper stars give middle finger to homophobic protesters at Pride in London
Stars of hit Netflix teen drama wrapped themselves in Pride flags and danced to Whitney Houston
Alison Hammond and Philip Schofield attend Pride in London
ITV presenters Alison Hammon and Philip Schofield are showing their support for LGBT+ communities as they attend Pride in London.
Schofield, 60, came out as gay in 2020. Prior to coming out, he had been married to his wife Stephanie Lowe for 27 years, with whom he shares two adult daughters.
He posted more photographs from the parade on his Instagram Stories, including one with his ITV team. He wrote: “Happy Pride gorgeous team.”
Marchers from the first Pride in London in 1972 take to the streets again
A group of people who marched in the first Pride in London in 1972 have marched once again today.
The protesters held up placards that read: “I was there in 1972. Still fighting for global LGBT+ freedom.”
A video posted by Pride in London also showed them chanting: “We’re here. We’re queer. We won’t disappear.”
WATCH: Heartstopper cast members confront anti-LGBT protesters at Pride in London
Fans of Courtney Act starstruck by her presence at Pride in London
Australian drag queen Courtney Act, who competed on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, is at Pride in London today.
Unable to contain their excitement, fans took to Twitter to document seeing the drag star on the Trafalgar Stage.
Dame Kelly Holmes and Emily Sandé at London’s Pride parade
Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes and singer Emeli Sande are among those attending the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride parade.
The athlete and songstress, both of whom recently came out publicly as gay, shared their excitement at being part of what the London Mayor’s office described as the biggest Pride in the capital ever.
Sande, who is among those on the entertainment bill, posted a story on her Instagram which showed her and her partner, classical pianist Yoana Karemova, on their way to soundcheck, and later in Trafalgar Square, where preparations were under way for the day’s musical extravaganza.
Sande previously said she was driven to come out publicly by an urge to be “bold and honest” in everything she does, and that while she had been “nervous” about the decision, she also wanted to “shout from the rooftops and celebrate” their relationship.
Dame Kelly posted an image of herself online wearing a long multicoloured outfit featuring a Pride flag with the hashtag “being me” - a nod to an ITV documentary she appeared in to tell her story.
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