More than 400 volunteers, young people and staff – the largest group ever to march with Stonewall – took part in the parade carrying placards in five languages to support the charity’s campaign for equality in Britain and around the world.
The charity, celebrating its 25th anniversary, was joined on the London Pride parade by Stonewall founders including X-Men star Sir Ian McKellen, Olivette Cole-Wilson, Simon Fanshawe and Lisa Power.
Before the London Pride parade 150 young people joined Stonewall’s annual Youth Pride Brunch, allowing many of them to celebrate Pride for the first time. The Brunch is a major part of Stonewall’s Youth Volunteering Programme, supported by Lloyds Banking Group. During the morning event young people heard a powerful speech from Sir Ian McKellen.
Stonewall’s Acting Chief Executive Ruth Hunt said: ‘London Pride is a celebration that the whole capital can be proud of. It’s inspirational to see so many thousands of people not just celebrating everything we’ve achieved as a community but also continuing to fight for LGBT equality here in Britain and around the world. The fact that so many young people marched with Stonewall shows that the spirit of Pride is alive and well.’
In nearly 80 countries homosexuality is illegal, and in five countries people can be executed for being gay. Stonewall works with campaigners worldwide, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and international partners, to support campaigns for lesbian, gay and bisexual equality. Find out more at www.stonewall.org.uk/international
Here in Britain Stonewall works with more than 10,000 schools and runs an annual Youth Volunteering Programme to help tackle homophobic bullying in schools: www.stonewall.org.uk/atschool
