July 6, 12:14 p.m. EDT/+5GMT/-3PDT

(London) Close to a quarter million people celebrated Pride Saturday in London.  The Pride Parade and the afternoon Mardi Gras have become one of the biggest summer events in the UK.  30 years ago, when the first parade was held, only a handful of people showed up.

Police "we quite aggressive then," recalls gay rights leader Peter Tatchell.  It was quite a different scene today, with gay and lesbian officers marching in the parade in a contingent headed by Metropolitan Police commander Brian Paddick, the highest ranking gay police officer in the UK.

Crowds lined the streets as the parade made its way from Hyde Park Corner for Westminster and the Houses of Parliament.

Marchers decked out in rainbow colours, drag queens, and men in studded jocks and leather harnesses all generated excitement in the crowd.  

Following the parade, people headed to east London's Hackney Marshes for the Mardi Gras to hear bands including Suede, Westlife, Atomic Kitten, Lulu and a1.

But, there was a serious time too.

Rights organizers issued a "We are Family" rallying cry for the festival in their quest for legal recognition of same-sex partnerships and the right to adopt. 

Among the speakers were Angela Mason OBE, the executive director of Stonewall, former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam and London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Earlier in the week Livingstone told the Pink Paper this week: "What has always made it so special for me is that it brings people together from across the UK, from all different backgrounds and of all different sexualities, to celebrate the lives of lesbians and gay men and make a very big statement about equality.

©365Gay.com Ltd® 2002

Close Window to Return to TBC Web Site