Pride in London reveals special theme to mark 50 years since Stonewall riots
It's a theme fit for a queen...
By Will Stroude
Pride in London will mark 50 years since the Stonewall Riots with a special theme that celebrates the LGBTQ community’s hard-fought battles – and looks ahead to how the next ones can be won.
Organisers of the UK’s biggest Pride demonstration revealed on Monday (7 April) that the theme of this year’s event will be #PrideJubilee, which commemorate the LGBTQ community has been on since the fightback in New York City in June 1969 which sparked the birth of the modern gay rights movement.
The Pride in London parade is set to take place this year on Saturday 6 July, kicking off a month-long Pride festival in which will see artists, performers and venues across the capital showcase the best the community has to offer.
During a launch event on Monday night, Pride in London bosses promised that security along the parade route would be ramped up this year, after last year’s event was marred by the presence of anti-transgender protestors who lay down in the street in front of marchers.
Alison Camps, Co-Chair of Pride in London, said: “At Pride in London last year, and with the constant and senseless attacks on the trans community since then, we’re seeing that Pride Matters more than ever.
“For our part, we’re working hard to learn from what happened to ensure there is no repeat of the transphobic hate that was spewed at our event last year, so that Pride is a welcoming and safe space for every single person in the community who shares our values of inclusivity and respect.
“50 years on from the Stonewall Riots, we all need to take stock of how far we have come and how far we still have to go. We at Pride in London want to mark this unique milestone by recognising and celebrating the people – some of whom lost their lives simply for being who they are – and the moments in our shared history that have made us what we are today.
“That’s what the #PrideJubilee is about.”
Justin Bengry, Lecturer in Queer History and Convenor, Queer History MA at Goldsmiths University, praised Pride in London’s #PrideJubilee theme for honouring the diversity of the community.
“I’m delighted that #PrideJubilee looks back at our history and honours the LGBTQ activists and changemakers that have driven the movement forward. They offer us crucial examples for the future.
“We are reminded every day that the great strides in equality that some of us enjoy today are not experienced by everyone in our community. Past battles have been hard won, but they are not over and we have much to learn from our LGBTQ forebears. Our history is too important to leave in the past.”
You can share your most important Pride moments form the last 50 years with Pride in London now.