Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / LONDON
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

Saturday, 1 July 2006, 15:52 GMT 16:52 UK

Colourful parade marks EuroPride

EuroPride parade Thousands of people have attended a huge parade marking the end of a two-week European festival of gay and lesbian culture.

Streets in central London were closed as marchers, floats, dancers and bands led the EuroPride procession.

Spectators cheered as the parade, including a giant rainbow flag, wound its way towards Trafalgar Square.

"It shows to the world what London is, the world's most diverse, gay-friendly city," said organiser Jason Pollock.

Mr Pollock, EuroPride London 06 chief executive, said the festival had drawn 750,000 people to the capital.

Men in uniform

A Scotland Yard spokesman said about 40,000 people had turned out for the parade.

About 40 Royal Navy personnel paraded in their uniforms for the first time at the march.

Army and RAF personnel were not given permission to take part in their official uniforms, however.

The parade travelled along Oxford Street and Regent Street then on to Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, then Whitehall and Victoria Embankment.

Mayor Ken Livingstone, who was at the front of the parade, said it was a chance to celebrate the lesbian and gay community's contribution to the city.

He said: "What this shows as we march through the city of London - one of the greatest cities on earth - is a city can be a wonderful place to live in with people of every race, religion and sexuality."




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
London to host Europe's gay pride (02 May 06 |  London )
Moscow urged to end gay pride ban (22 Feb 06 |  Europe )
Gay Pride weathers Belfast storm (06 Aug 05 |  Northern Ireland )
Protests disrupt Latvia gay march (23 Jul 05 |  Europe )
Gay Pride urged 'think of Africa' (02 Jul 05 |  London )
In Pictures: London Gay Pride (02 Jul 05 |  In Pictures )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
EuroPride - London
EuroPride Parade
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©