Tens of thousands march in London for annual Pride parade
Summary
Tens of thousands of people marched in London for the annual LGBT+ Pride parade, with Mayor Sadiq Khan joining the event. The parade highlighted ongoing issues like long waits for gender-affirming healthcare, hate crimes, and the loss of LGBTQ+ safe spaces.Key Facts
- Over 35,000 people from about 600 groups participated in the Pride parade in central London.
- The march went from Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall via Piccadilly.
- NHS waiting times for gender-affirming care can exceed four years in some areas.
- There is no full legal ban yet on conversion therapy, despite a government promise in 2018.
- Since 2006, 58% of London’s LGBTQ+ venues have closed.
- More than 18,000 hate crimes related to sexual orientation were reported to police in 2025.
- London’s first official Pride march was in 1972, inspired by the 1969 Stonewall protests in New York.
- Some activists criticize recent events for allowing companies to use Pride for profit without strong support for LGBTQ+ rights, and for lacking diversity. Some groups have distanced themselves from the event due to concerns about sponsors’ links to the arms trade and the war in Gaza.
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