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Pride in London: Up to a million watch parade | |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Streets in central London are filled with thousands of people celebrating this year's Pride in London parade. | |
The parade itself, which coincides with England's quarter-final match with Sweden, features about 30,000 people from 472 organisations. | |
But up to one million other people are thought to be lining the streets to watch the event. | |
It started out from Portland Place at 12:00 BST and is due to finish in Whitehall at about 17:00. | |
Organisers said they hoped "all the rainbows... will work their magic and send good vibes over to Russia." | Organisers said they hoped "all the rainbows... will work their magic and send good vibes over to Russia." |
"It's quite poetic with Russia being so problematic as far as LGBT rights are concerned, there's a beautiful synergy there," co-chairwoman Alison Camps said. | "It's quite poetic with Russia being so problematic as far as LGBT rights are concerned, there's a beautiful synergy there," co-chairwoman Alison Camps said. |
Ms Camps said the event was taking place at a time LGBT rights issues were more important than ever as the UK is "falling down the rankings in terms of the best place to be LGBT." | |
"There's a real danger in this country that people assume that the battle is over and that the job is done," she said. | "There's a real danger in this country that people assume that the battle is over and that the job is done," she said. |
A recent survey by Pride in London found Britons care more about animal rights than LGBT rights. | A recent survey by Pride in London found Britons care more about animal rights than LGBT rights. |
Among the organisations taking part are the Met Police, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade. | |
Some 150 Met officers were expected to join the parade, which Scotland Yard said was their biggest ever representation. | |
Ch Supt Helen Millichap said people should enjoy the festivities, but remain vigilant because the "current threat level remains at severe". | |