Moment reveller at Pride is restrained after ‘trying to attack’ Christian counter-protesters

The protestors gathered  alongside the Pride parade reciting religious sermons criticising the march.

The group of eight activists – seven men and one woman – stood within a fenced off section adjacent to the route of the parade.

Several police officers were stationed around the counter-protest, set up on Piccadilly, to prevent potential clashes.

The group held placards reading: ‘Repent and turn to Christ’ and ‘Be not proud, for the Lord hath spoken…a man’s pride shall bring him low’.

A middle-aged man addressed the parade through a loudspeaker and was met with jeers from marchers in ridicule.

It comes after London Mayor Sadiq Khan led the crowd at the capitals Pride parade whilst a group chanted ‘there is no pride in genocide’ elsewhere in the city.

His wife Saadiya Khan and Conservative Assembly member Andrew Boff as well as MAFS star Ella Morgan, double Olympic gold medallist Kelly Homes were also present at the march which set off from Hyde Park today.

In a full statement about the Pride in London parade, Sadiq Khan said: ‘I’m delighted that London’s diverse LGBTQI+ communities and allies are once again joining together in the heart of our capital for our world-renowned Pride celebrations and march of solidarity.

‘Pride is one of the highlights of my year and it is an honour to have been on every march since I was first elected as mayor in 2016.

‘This incredible event is a shining light for LGBTQI+ rights and shows why our city is a beacon for openness and inclusion – a place where you are embraced and celebrated for who you are. Our capital’s LGBTQI+ communities make a huge contribution to life in London.

‘There is however still work to be done to achieve true equality, and as a proud ally, I’ll continue to stand side-by-side with our capital’s LGBTQI+ communities as we work to build a better London for all.’

Dee Chanelle, director of Zodiac, who is hosting the official Pride in London Social, said: ‘Pride is a time of unity where everyone comes together to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights.

‘Freedom to express yourself and live authentically is very important.

‘London is open to all this Saturday and we are proud to have our employees take part in the parade.

‘It’s important to employ members of the LGBTQ+ community from gifted entertainers to those who otherwise struggle with work opportunities based on appearance and sexual orientation.

‘The atmosphere is London is amazing today and we are ready to welcome the crowds in later for our busiest day of the year.

‘We are contributing not only to this important day but helping to boost the London economy.’

Elsewhere in London, the group Queers for Palestine walked through Piccadilly chanting: ‘There is no pride in genocide’.

The 50-person group waved posters accusing Israel of genocide whilst also alleging the state was ‘pinkwashing’ to improve its international reputation.

Pinkwashing – also known as rainbow-washing – is a term used to describe the practice of trying to benefit from supporting LGBTQ rights as a way to profit or divert away from another agenda.

Tahir Kesai, a 50-year-old who was part of the group, said: ‘We decided to march because we think it’s important to be here. We’re too passionate about this cause to not participate.’

The 50-year-old from Windsor said: ‘Being gay means different things in different parts of the world.

‘I don’t agree you have to be gay in a western way. I think people perceive it differently. I don’t think Israel is that gay friendly, either.’

Tens of thousands of people marched, many in colourful costumes, in this year’s Pride parade in central London.

The annual event, which had the theme £WeAreEverywhere in 2024, is a demonstration of LGBTQ+ pride and solidarity which celebrates diversity and fosters inclusion.

The event culminated in a mass gathering at Trafalgar Square where attendees enjoyed musical acts as free, cold soft drinks were handed out to crowds that had spent the day in the warm sun.

Alena Firestone, a 21-year-old student from Washington DC, in the US, said: ‘I’ve been to pride marches in DC and Philadelphia, and I saw that they were doing one in London so I wanted to see what it was all about.’

Ms Firestone went to watch the parade with her friend, Tamara Whitehead, 22, who studies with her at University College London.

Ms Firestone said: ‘In Washington, you march within the parade. But here, by standing on the side, you get a better feel for it.’

Among the myriad groups represented on the parade were Tesco workers, a marching band who treated crowds to a popular brass-version of Toxic by Britney Spears, and Ishigaki Ju-Jitsu – the UK’s largest LGBT+ martial arts club.

As the parade went down Piccadilly, spectators and participants danced and sang to loud pop music being pumped out of a Heart radio float.

Queers For Palestine marchers chanted ‘there is no pride in genocide’ as they walked down Piccadilly.

Asked why she wanted to march with the group, one young woman who did not want to be identified replied: ‘Free Palestine.’

Amran Khan, who did not want to give their age, said they were against pinkwashing.

Asked what they made of criticisms that Queers For Palestine ignore the limited gay rights within Palestinian society, they said: ‘I can’t speak because I’m not from there, but you have to be in a privileged position to ask that question.’

They said the group was getting a ‘very positive’ reception from the crowd.

Onlooker Wes, 42 and a GP from Surrey who did not want to give his surname, said he thought it was a ‘positive thing’ that the group were part of the parade.

Ben, 44, a surgeon, also from Surrey, said: ‘Pride is a political event. It’s their freedom of speech.’

Jenny Watson, 32, organised an alternative gathering for lesbians separate from the Pride parade.

The group met by the Emmeline Pankhurst statue at 11am on Saturday to chant and discuss themes around ‘lesbian resistance’.

One of the chants included: ‘Lesbians, not queer, we march with no fear.’

Ms Watson, a town planner from Belfast, said: ‘We didn’t want to advertise it because we didn’t want to be ambushed. (Our event) was not a protest, it’s a celebration.’

She said: ‘I’ve been coming to Pride since I was 18 – then it was easy, simple and fun.

‘But it’s been taken over. The last time I went was two years ago. Towards the end of the parade I noticed this bus full of men in kink outfits with ball gags. I thought, what has this become?

‘I don’t feel that it represents lesbians any more. It’s not welcoming.

‘They said we don’t respect their values, but what are their values? Men can be women, and women can be men?

‘Stonewall (the LGBT campaign group set-up in 1989) was about presenting gay people as normal, but now it’s turned into a circus. It’s not about saying gay people are normal. Now, there’s people in the LGBT community who just want to be a bit different.’