Grandiose EuroPride took place in Central London
10/07/2006
Submitted by
Nikolay Alekseev, Human Rights LGBT Project GayRussia.ru
Grandiose EuroPride took place in Central London
Mayor Ken Livingstone carried the banner of the Moscow Pride in the first row of the marche
Visit our exclusive photo gallery of the EuroPride : http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/societ...lery/section.php?&SECTION_ID=371
On Saturday July 1st, 2006 took place in the British capital the annual EuroPride festival. Despite the heat which was over London for several days, around 50'000 participants demonstrated in the streets of Central London.
Especially this year for the EuroPride, the two main streets of London, Oxford Street and Regent Street have been blocked for the marche. The route included Piccadily Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben as well as Downing Street, the residence of the Prime Minister Tony Blair. The grandiose carnival of tolerance ended along the Thames like every year.
The London gay pride is known as an easy event were anyone can come in the fiorst rows to carry the main banner or just to approach the VIPs. In the first row of the pride, many different people carried the EuroPride banners. Politicians, LGBT activists, participants... The mayor of London Ken Livingstone was the natural leader of the marche, holding a flag of Venezuela and Che Guevara's portrait as a token of solidarity with the South American LGBT community. Ken Livingstone has declared his admiration for Che Guevara: "He would be a leading supporter of gay rights". The mayor who initially invited gays and lesbians of all europe to come to London for the EuroPride confirmed that he is one of the most gayfriendly European politician.
Among the VIPs leading the London Pride were seen the transgender Italian deputy Vladimir Luxuria, the Member of the European Parliament Michael Cashman, and the actor Ian McKellen rated "most influencial gay in Britain by the daily newspaper The Independant.
Before the beginning of the marche, journalists were attracted by the Peter Tachell who arrived at the front of the procession with a portrait of the Pope Benedict XVI and the title " Queen of Homophobia". The legendary gay activist appeared together with Moscow Pride organizer Nikolai Alekseev. When Tatchell was asked what he would tell the Pope if he ever had a chance to meet him, he answered "I would tell him: you look like a gay, walk like a gay and dressed like a gay, so, maybe you are gay ?"
As well as in Turin two weeks earlier, Nikolay Alekseev and a number of local gay activists helped to carry the banner of the Moscow gay pride. Also Michael Cashman and Ian McKellen were noted among the VIPs who accepted to carry the banner. The British actor (Lord of the rings; Da Vinci Code; X-Men 2) has accepted the invitation of N. Alekseev to come to Moscow to take part in the second gay pride scheduled on Sunday May 27th, 2007. Michael Cashman who unfortunately missed the first Moscow Pride for pesonnal reasons promised to be in Moscow where he will also be joined by Vladimir Luxuria the Italian deputy.
When the procession reached Piccadily Circus, N. Alekseev joined the mayor of London in the first row of the pride. Ken Livingstone who has given over the last months, a great support to the organizers of the Moscow Pride, has decided to carry the flag of the "Moscow Pride '06" festival. Nikolai Alekseev has thanked Ken Livingstone for his support and for his condemnation of the illegal decision of the mayor of Moscow J. Luzhkov to forbid the gay pride in Moscow. In turn K.Livingstonehas declared, that he admired the courage of those who fight for their rights in Russia. He called gays and lesbians to continue to struggle for their rights.
Representatives of the British Navy took part for the first time in the London Pride wearing their military uniform. Like every year, an impressive group of British policemen and firemen also passed in the streets of London. Among other participants could be seen LGBT groups and representatives of universities, National service of public health, City of London and also a local double deck red bus.
By tradition, down Trafalgare Square, around 10 counter-demonstrators gathered with posters "Homosexuality is a sin". They were answered by the participants of teh gay pride who welcomed them with smiles.
After the gay pride, Eastern European activists have appeared on the big stage in front of the National Gallery Museum, on Trafalgar Square. In front of thousands of spectators, the Mayor London but also Michael Cashman, Ian McKellen, Vladimir Luxuria and Nikolai Alekseev have each talked to the audience for a few minutes. After the last speech, all the Eastern European activists have been invited to hold their national flags on the stage.
In his speech, Alekseev particularly emphasized that: "my grandfather died during the Second world war, fighting for ideals of freedom and equality. His body was never found. 63 years later, the Russian authorities and the same fascist ideology have stopped me on my way to the Tomb of the Unknown soldier where I intend to honour the memory of my grandfather and many others who were lost in the fight against fascism". N.Alekseev has finished the speech under a loud applause after he declared: "I have a dream, that one day all of you will be with us in Moscow to take part in next EuroPride. We shall not allow fascism to return"
The ambassador of the Moscow Pride N. Alekseev has declared: "it is the most grandiose gay pride in which I ever took part. Such friendly and warm atmosphere of tolerance and diversity cannot be found in many other cities".
In the evening all gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transexuals participants gathered in Soho, the well-known gay district of London. Bars, cafes and restaurants were all overcrowded and people were drinking outside. All were peacefully celebrating this succesfull EuroPride. Hospitable London said goodbye to the participants of the EuroPride, passing the baton to Madrid. The Spanish Capital will welcome the event next year.
Visit our exclusive photo gallery of the EuroPride : http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/societ...lery/section.php?&SECTION_ID=371
http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/actions/detail.php?ID=6264
GayRussia.Ru, from London
Mayor Ken Livingstone carried the banner of the Moscow Pride in the first row of the marche
Visit our exclusive photo gallery of the EuroPride : http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/societ...lery/section.php?&SECTION_ID=371
On Saturday July 1st, 2006 took place in the British capital the annual EuroPride festival. Despite the heat which was over London for several days, around 50'000 participants demonstrated in the streets of Central London.
Especially this year for the EuroPride, the two main streets of London, Oxford Street and Regent Street have been blocked for the marche. The route included Piccadily Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben as well as Downing Street, the residence of the Prime Minister Tony Blair. The grandiose carnival of tolerance ended along the Thames like every year.
The London gay pride is known as an easy event were anyone can come in the fiorst rows to carry the main banner or just to approach the VIPs. In the first row of the pride, many different people carried the EuroPride banners. Politicians, LGBT activists, participants... The mayor of London Ken Livingstone was the natural leader of the marche, holding a flag of Venezuela and Che Guevara's portrait as a token of solidarity with the South American LGBT community. Ken Livingstone has declared his admiration for Che Guevara: "He would be a leading supporter of gay rights". The mayor who initially invited gays and lesbians of all europe to come to London for the EuroPride confirmed that he is one of the most gayfriendly European politician.
Among the VIPs leading the London Pride were seen the transgender Italian deputy Vladimir Luxuria, the Member of the European Parliament Michael Cashman, and the actor Ian McKellen rated "most influencial gay in Britain by the daily newspaper The Independant.
Before the beginning of the marche, journalists were attracted by the Peter Tachell who arrived at the front of the procession with a portrait of the Pope Benedict XVI and the title " Queen of Homophobia". The legendary gay activist appeared together with Moscow Pride organizer Nikolai Alekseev. When Tatchell was asked what he would tell the Pope if he ever had a chance to meet him, he answered "I would tell him: you look like a gay, walk like a gay and dressed like a gay, so, maybe you are gay ?"
As well as in Turin two weeks earlier, Nikolay Alekseev and a number of local gay activists helped to carry the banner of the Moscow gay pride. Also Michael Cashman and Ian McKellen were noted among the VIPs who accepted to carry the banner. The British actor (Lord of the rings; Da Vinci Code; X-Men 2) has accepted the invitation of N. Alekseev to come to Moscow to take part in the second gay pride scheduled on Sunday May 27th, 2007. Michael Cashman who unfortunately missed the first Moscow Pride for pesonnal reasons promised to be in Moscow where he will also be joined by Vladimir Luxuria the Italian deputy.
When the procession reached Piccadily Circus, N. Alekseev joined the mayor of London in the first row of the pride. Ken Livingstone who has given over the last months, a great support to the organizers of the Moscow Pride, has decided to carry the flag of the "Moscow Pride '06" festival. Nikolai Alekseev has thanked Ken Livingstone for his support and for his condemnation of the illegal decision of the mayor of Moscow J. Luzhkov to forbid the gay pride in Moscow. In turn K.Livingstonehas declared, that he admired the courage of those who fight for their rights in Russia. He called gays and lesbians to continue to struggle for their rights.
Representatives of the British Navy took part for the first time in the London Pride wearing their military uniform. Like every year, an impressive group of British policemen and firemen also passed in the streets of London. Among other participants could be seen LGBT groups and representatives of universities, National service of public health, City of London and also a local double deck red bus.
By tradition, down Trafalgare Square, around 10 counter-demonstrators gathered with posters "Homosexuality is a sin". They were answered by the participants of teh gay pride who welcomed them with smiles.
After the gay pride, Eastern European activists have appeared on the big stage in front of the National Gallery Museum, on Trafalgar Square. In front of thousands of spectators, the Mayor London but also Michael Cashman, Ian McKellen, Vladimir Luxuria and Nikolai Alekseev have each talked to the audience for a few minutes. After the last speech, all the Eastern European activists have been invited to hold their national flags on the stage.
In his speech, Alekseev particularly emphasized that: "my grandfather died during the Second world war, fighting for ideals of freedom and equality. His body was never found. 63 years later, the Russian authorities and the same fascist ideology have stopped me on my way to the Tomb of the Unknown soldier where I intend to honour the memory of my grandfather and many others who were lost in the fight against fascism". N.Alekseev has finished the speech under a loud applause after he declared: "I have a dream, that one day all of you will be with us in Moscow to take part in next EuroPride. We shall not allow fascism to return"
The ambassador of the Moscow Pride N. Alekseev has declared: "it is the most grandiose gay pride in which I ever took part. Such friendly and warm atmosphere of tolerance and diversity cannot be found in many other cities".
In the evening all gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transexuals participants gathered in Soho, the well-known gay district of London. Bars, cafes and restaurants were all overcrowded and people were drinking outside. All were peacefully celebrating this succesfull EuroPride. Hospitable London said goodbye to the participants of the EuroPride, passing the baton to Madrid. The Spanish Capital will welcome the event next year.
Visit our exclusive photo gallery of the EuroPride : http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/societ...lery/section.php?&SECTION_ID=371
http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/actions/detail.php?ID=6264
GayRussia.Ru, from London
