Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) community take part in the annual Pride Parade in the streets of London on June 29, 2024. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
One US attendant said the event even bested its equivalent in Washington (Picture: AFP)

The streets of the capital were fit to burst earlier today as thousands came out to participate in London’s annual Pride parade. 

Organisers of the event, which this year carries the theme #WeAreEverywhere, say they aim to ‘raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and advocate for the freedoms that will enable everyone to live their lives on equal footing’.

The celebrations were kicked off at noon on Saturday by London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan and his wife, Saadiya Khan, who were accompanied by London Assembly Conservative chairman Andrew Boff, himself a gay man. 

Participants in the march were treated to free musical acts and cold soft drinks.

People at London Pride March 2024 dressed in colourful head decorations on board a float through the streets with other people on the background.
London Pride 2024 atmosphere (Picture: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock)
People take part in the 2024 Pride Parade on its way through Trafalgar Square in London, Britain.
The parade on its way through Trafalgar Square in London (Picture: Isabel Infantes/Reuters)

Alena Firestone, 21, from Washington DC, said: ‘I’ve been to pride marches in DC and Philadelphia, and I saw that they were doing one in London so I wanted to see what it was all about.

‘In Washington, you march within the parade. But here, by standing on the side, you get a better feel for it.’

Among the groups represented in the parade were Tesco workers and Ishigaki Ju-Jitsu, the UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ martial arts club. 

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock (14563606aa) London Mayor Sadiq Khan take parts in the Pride march celebrations .A Pride rally is expected to welcome large crowds, as over 30,000 people are set to walk the route between Hyde Park Corner and Trafal;gar Square. The Pride in London Parade, London, United Kingdom - 29 Jun 2024
The event was kicked off by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and his wife (Picture: Shutterstock)
People take part in the Pride in London parade. Picture date: Saturday June 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCIAL Pride. Photo credit should read: Tim Anderson/PA Wire
Thousands of people and representatives of hundreds of different groups took part in the parade (Picture: PA Wire)
A person watches the 2024 Pride Parade on its way through Piccadilly Circus in London, Britain, June 29, 2024. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
The parade attracted a small group of no more than eight counter-protesters, who were swiftly ridiculed by attendants and participants (Picture: Reuters)

Also present were Queers For Palestine, who chanted ‘there is no pride in genocide’ as they marched down Piccadilly. 

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A small group of just seven men and one women attended a counter-protest against the event, held in a fenced off section adjacent to the route of the parade. 

They were accompanied by several police officers to avoid potential clashes with participants.

People at London Pride March 2024 dressed in colourful head decorations on board a float through the streets with other people on the background.
The giant rainbow flag (Picture: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
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One of the counter-protesters, a middle-aged man, attempted to address the parade by means of a loudspeaker. He was, however, ridiculed by passing marchers. 

A Pride participant was seen holding a cardboard cut-out of Jesus next to the counter-protesters, with a sign saying ‘I’m sorry about them’ and an arrow pointing toward the fenced-off group.

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