28/06/14: It rained (in fact, it actually poured) yet still we came, and not in our hundreds, not even in our thousands, but in our hundreds of thousands! (No, not the multi-coloured sparkly super-sweet sprinkly hundreds of thousands you get on ice-cream, although it’s a pretty similar description.)
We’re told it was the biggest Pride parade ever, with more participants, more marchers, more paraders and more everything than ever before. We cheered, we laughed, we even welled-up with pride (funny that) as us Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Bi and Intersex of the gender and sexuality diverse community gathered to celebrate our day! For when ‘Straight’ Pride takes place 364 days a year, this is our one day to be united, and to shout, dance, shimmy and sing out loud that we are here and we will be heard.
Trafalgar Square roared as Conchita Wurst flew in for a thunderous performance. How the crowds cheered! Ian McKellen and Peter Tatchell delivered stirring speeches. Sinitta tried to remind us why she was once famous. Samantha Fox was actually really fun. Sink The Pink were suitably bonkers.
The Supreme Fabulettes were simply superb. And La Voix showcased her powerhouse vocals to full effect. The square was a riot, with 10,000 LGBT+ friends and their families all singing in the rain. It was a wonderfully choreographed main stage, possibly the best ever, for a Pride that despite the morning deluge ended in rays of glorious sunshine.
Huge congratulations go out to every single VOLUNTEER – be they on the Pride in London board or on the streets stewarding the crowds – for their hard work delivering another free Pride for London. Not a mean feat considering that the current team have only been in place for two years since taking charge of the event following the previous organisation’s disastrous 2012 collapse. ‘Rise like a Phoenix’ indeed!
Photos by Chris Jepson
Words by Cliff Joannou