If you were saddened and outraged by the horrific attack this week at a gay club in Orlando, a good way to voice your support for the LGBT+ community might be to bring the kids and head on down to London’s Pride parade on Saturday the 25th of June. The children will adore the amazing outfits—who doesn’t love superhero costumes and glitter?—and if they’re old enough you might explain how Pride came about, and why it’s still needed (e.g., according to Pride in London organisers, hate crimes against LGBT people increased by 22 percent last year).
We must all focus on what binds us rather than what separates us and stand in unity.#PrideinLondon #nofilterhttps://t.co/JIC4vMLK5n
— Pride in London (@LondonLGBTPride) June 13, 2016
The parade begins at 1pm from Portland Place, carrying on down Regents Street and continuing all the way to Pall Mall and Whitehall, ending at 4:30pm. (Oxford Circus and Regents Street will be the most crowded, so best avoided with kids.) Nearly 300 groups take part—from charities to corporate groups, community to faith groups—including the Flagbearers, with members of London’s LGBT community carrying a flag from every country in the world. Expect music and dancing and a joyfully defiant air.
Along with the parade, there’s a Women’s Stage and a Cabaret Stage in Soho plus the main stage in Trafalgar Square with all-day entertainment. Trafalgar Square will hold a minute’s reflection in response to the Orlando shootings.
Check out the Pride in London website for parade info, and other family-friendly Pride events.
