As the English capital’s main annual gay fest climaxes (3 July 2010), Pride London chair Paul Birrell explains what hosting World Pride could do for the city in 2012.
Whilst you can scarce avoid the news that the Olympics are in town in 2012, you may not yet have quite heard that - as well as it being the queen’s diamond jubilee year - Pride London will be hosting WorldPride 2012.
It is, of course, WorldPride that I am most looking forward to. Indeed, being given this opportunity is no small achievement in itself. WorldPride is only awarded occasionally - and only to cities that can prove that they have what it takes to organise a truly memorable event. I am therefore exceptionally proud - and more then a little excited! - that London will play host in 2012.
In the UK, we have come a long way in our campaigns for equality for the LGBT community; and some would argue that - because of the huge progress that has been made - there is no longer a need for Pride events and parades here in the UK at all.
Indeed, some question why a community that claims to want to be simply an accepted part of society chooses to single itself out, making a spectacle of itself, parading through the streets in hot pants and feathers. I disagree with this view strongly. With the relative freedom and legal protections we now enjoy it is all too easy to forget the battles that have been fought to get us where we are today – and that are still being waged in many, many places elsewhere.
Both London Mayors to date have enthusiastically supported Pride in the capital and Boris Johnson has said publicly how pleased he is that London will host World Pride. Contrast this, for instance, with recent comments made by the Mayor of Moscow!
Pride London’s World Pride aim is to raise international awareness of LGBT rights - something which we have actually been campaigning for over a number of years. Set against still-widespread global intolerance, you can see how important it is that Pride London and its work, campaigning for LGBT rights around the world, should continue.
There has been much talk about the legacy for the Olympics. My hope for the legacy of WorldPride 2012 is that it will make the UK a beacon of tolerance and equality, shining a light on those places around the world that refuse to treat LGBT people equally. I hope that this will help to chip away at the prejudice and bigotry which still makes the lives of countless millions of LGBT people around the world a misery.
Roll on 2012!
Adrian Gillan
