Yesterday was London's annual LGBTQ+ Pride parade, which I attended with my friend Chris from work. I haven't been to Pride in a couple of years -- not since 2022 -- so it was good to go back and get my dose of flamboyance and feathers!
Pride offers possibly the best photography opportunities of any event all year. Everyone's there to see and be seen, from the relatively understated...
...to the most elaborately costumed. This person had a whole Ukraine-themed thing going on which definitely wins points for creativity.
I took 528 pictures, of which I selected 77 for a closer look. Of those, you're getting nine (plus a video). So hopefully this is the crème de la crème.
As usual I was impressed with the diversity of the crowd and the participants. There were marchers of all ages, races, abilities and genders, marchers representing asylum seekers, gay Christian Africans, sports teams, corporations, theater productions, "dykes on bikes," you name it.
We had a bit of excitement when some pro-Palestinian protesters threw red paint on a truck and glued themselves to it, causing the parade to stop for about an hour. Chris and I didn't know what was going on -- only that there was a massive gap in parade activity. Fortunately there was plenty of fun people-watching to be done.
There were also several pro-Palestine and "two-state solution" contingents in the parade itself.
And of course the usual array of incredibly daring and clever and unusual outfits. The gays do know how to put on a show.
As I said, even the spectators were pretty entertaining.
There was also a lot of attention given to trans rights, following a controversial Supreme Court ruling in England earlier this year. (You can click the link for details of the ruling.)
We did see a few celebrities, including actress Vanessa Williams and singer/actor Olly Alexander, who stood within about a foot of me. (I didn't realize who he was until Chris pointed it out after he moved on.)
During another lengthy parade delay, we happened to be standing near the contingent from the Royal Navy, who at first were very military in their restrained presentation. An announcer nearby, desperate to create some entertainment while the parade stalled, put on the Village People's song "In the Navy," which got those sailors grooving. They followed that with a performance of "YMCA" (above).
Afterwards Chris and I made our way through Soho to a couple of the performance stages, ending our day in Trafalgar Square. The shot above shows the crowds in Old Compton Street, the center of gay life in London in years past.
Happy Pride, everyone!
Joyful!!
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteThat does look like a good time was being enjoyed by all.
ReplyDeleteSmiles all around.
DeleteIf you were wearing your dashiki, I imagine that you were actually the subject of many photos snapped yesterday.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I can see why you picked the top picture to head this blogpost. Excellent. I think the whistle gives the image an extra lift and purpose.
DeleteI was not wearing my dashiki, though I considered it! Thanks for your comments on the top photo. :)
DeleteI love this and the top photo is energizing. Good for the Royal Navy. Would have loved to have seen them vibing to In The Navy. Too bad about the Drumpf connotations now of YMCA. What a great day and great shots. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I didn't pull out my phone earlier to catch them doing "In the Navy." I just moved too slowly!
DeleteWhat a good time! And great pictures. My daughter went to the Pride celebration in NYC last weekend; I'm drinking out of my Protect the Dolls mug she sent me right now.
ReplyDeleteI saw that slogan on many t-shirts!
DeleteGreat day. Did you or your friend dress up?
ReplyDeleteI wore a t-shirt I bought years ago in West Hollywood with a procession of rainbow-colored Volkswagens on the front. That's the closest to dressing up I came.
DeleteVery bright and gay. Interesting looking at the crowds - so many of them look downright miserable!
ReplyDeleteHa! Well, that Old Compton Street scene was really a crunch of humanity. Away from there I assure you most people were quite happy.
DeleteLovely seeing the Navy doing their part. What a fun day.
ReplyDeleteAnd it wasn't just he Navy! The Army and Air Force were there too!
DeleteI'm so glad you went! Beautiful photographs and what a great little video. What a fantastic party!
ReplyDeleteIt really was a terrific day of positive energy, which we all need right now.
DeleteWhat a joyful event. If only uptight straight people would relax and let everyone just be.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Predictably, a small group of Bible-thumpers were spewing their dogma, but nobody was paying them much attention.
DeleteHappy Pride, Steve! Great pics!
ReplyDeleteThank you and thank you!
DeleteYou know what surprised me the most? The military contingent/Navy. Here they could not have taken part in this parade, let alone taken part in uniform. I will never understand why this is such a divisive topic (and why it has been for so many years). If you are not gay, but your neighbor is, how does that affect your life at all? Some Christians really get fired up on the topic, but if you believe so strongly in God, why don't you step back and let your God do the judging?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of neighbors, any sign of your new neighbors yet?
Some ardent Christians apparently feel that tolerating LGBTQ+ people threatens their own existence by inviting Satan into their country and their lives. Or so I have read. (I can't begin to explain it myself.)
DeleteNo one has moved in upstairs, but the flat has been shown at least once and I hear an offer has been made.
What an energetic and fun event! I've never been to Pride although Seattle has a large event. Love the Royal Navy performance although I'm having trouble NOT associating that song with Trump these days.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think of the Trump connection when I filmed it. I wish I'd shot them doing "In the Navy" instead!
DeleteWow, the crowds in the street are mind boggling! What a fun thing to experience. I haven't been to a Pride parade in years. The best ones were in Chicago when I was working there. The guy in the gold dress is wearing it well! I don't think there was ever a time I could have gotten away with wearing a dress like that.
ReplyDeleteHa! I know, he looks good in it, doesn't he?!
DeleteGreat photos Steve. Spirits are definitely high, and you can feel the joy. A grand Pride celebration.
ReplyDeleteHappy Pride!
It was a very fun, positive event.
DeleteFABULOUS!
ReplyDeleteOf course! :)
DeleteWell, that was fabulous! Great pictures! Loved the fact that "YMCA" was done by Royal Navy folks in uniform! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteYeah, wasn't that great to see?!
DeleteI like your closing sentence. Good to see that pride celebrations are alive and well.
ReplyDeleteThey are in London, that's for sure!
DeleteFab pics Steve. Loved the top worn by the spectator in the crowd. Enjoyed the video of the Navy singing.
ReplyDeleteWendy (Wales)
I liked that guy's top too. He pulled it off well! I certainly couldn't wear anything like that, though I might have gotten away with it 20 years ago. :)
DeleteHave to add another comment, the dude in the yellow dress with the full body tats was clearly "best in show!" Truly creative!!
ReplyDeleteI agree -- he had a great look!
Delete528 Photos And Not A Single Olga Girl Shot ?!?!?! Yes , I Tease Brother Man - These Are Amazing Shots !! Did You Only Use Your Phone Or Are These Captures On A Proper Camera ? You Definitely Captured The Moment For Sure
ReplyDeleteWell Done ,
Cheers
Ha! Olga would have freaked out in those crowds, though I did see dogs there. I wouldn't subject a dog to Pride.
DeleteI used my Canon Mark III -- my big camera with a good zoom.
Impressive Mark III - Solid Zoom Lens For Sure - Again , Amazing Quilty And Depth
DeleteStay Groovy ,
Cheers
Happy Pride Day, Steve! Great photos - I did a double-take at the fifth one, that guy looks so much like fashion designer Gunnar Deatherage from the U.S. (he's on all the platforms). The tattoos gave it away, though :)
ReplyDeleteHe DOES look like Gunnar, you're right!
DeleteGreat parade! Great photos! I can't imagine the Navy here involved like that at all.
ReplyDeleteWell, I suppose now they couldn't be, with Trump's mandates. I can't remember if I've seen the military participate in past Pride parades in the USA or not.
DeleteI cannot handle big crowds, so I'm so glad you did so we could see all these great photos!! I would gladly have enjoyed twice (or thrice!) as many! I think the showstopper is that first photo. It could be an image from a Mardi Gras celebration as well as a Pride one. If you don't have anything special to blog about tomorrow, give us more!
ReplyDeleteI will put a gallery up on Flickr, and when I do I'll be sure to let everyone know!
DeleteI agree with the others: that top picture is a classic. I also loved the one of the guy with the flowers on his head. I gather Dave did not attend. Not his thing?
ReplyDeleteDave is not a huge fan of Pride events, no! I always wind up going on my own, which is fine because then I can concentrate on the pictures.
DeleteWhat fun! I loved the photos & the video & the whole vibe.
ReplyDeleteIt was very positive and fun. I needed it!
DeleteHappy pride! Great photos! One of my nephews was there. I half expected to find him in your photos! That would have been serendipitous!
ReplyDeleteConsidering the number of people it would have been miraculous!
DeleteI love these types of parades with the colours and costumes and all the happy faces.
ReplyDeletePride is about the only parade that I can stand. Certainly more joyful than Trump's dour military display.
DeleteNice photos, great event, puts ours to shame.
ReplyDeleteDoes Tampa even have a Pride parade? There used to be a Pride event on the St. Pete waterfront, as I recall, but I don't remember one in Tampa. (Of course I'm thinking back to the '90s!)
Delete