Gay Pride demonstration at the Old Bailey, in occasion of  the start of the prosecution alleging blasphemous libel brought by Mary Whitehouse against the homosexual newspaper Gay News July 1977.Gay Pride demonstration at the Old Bailey, in occasion of  the start of the prosecution alleging blasphemous libel brought by Mary Whitehouse against the homosexual newspaper Gay News July 1977.
Gay Pride demonstration at the Old Bailey, in occasion of the start of the prosecution alleging blasphemous libel brought by Mary Whitehouse against the homosexual newspaper Gay News July 1977.

In pictures: Pride in London over the years

As we enter this year’s Pride weekend, let’s take a look back at the history of Pride in London through pictures of events past — from one of the first rallies in 1976 to the rainbow-flag-filled parades of recent years.

Almost every year for the past 51 years, on the last Saturday of June or the first Saturday of July, people in London have come together to celebrate Pride.

Pride is a chance to celebrate what it means to be a part of the LGBT+ community, as a community, and remember those who paved the way.

The first UK Gay Pride Rally was held in London on July 1 1972, a date that was chosen as it was the closest Saturday to the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, and around 2,000 people participated.

Protesters’ banners at the first London Pride said things like ‘Campaign for Homosexual Equality’. The struggle to be represented in the community is where it all began.

Fast-forward 51 years and Pride is a celebration of the huge range of diversity that defines our city – and it just keeps getting bigger.

As we enter this year’s Pride weekend, let’s take a look back at the history of Pride in London through pictures of events past — from one of the first rallies in 1976 to the rainbow-flag-filled parades of recent years.