London Pride, 2006
Story and Photos ©urban75, 1st July 2006
London hosted the 2006 EuroPride, a huge event considered to be Europe's biggest gay and lesbian cultural festival.
The event ran for two weeks and consisted of exhibitions, films, sporting events, comedy, theatre and music, finishing with a huge parade through central London, along the famous Oxford Street.
On a gloriously hot July afternoon, we were there to capture some of the action - and it was hot!
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-01.jpg)
Front of the march.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-02.jpg)
A huge rainbow banner was unfurled along Oxford Street.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-03.jpg) Twenty-two Royal Navy personnel take their place in the Pride march through central London - the first time they've openly taken part in uniform.
The British government ban on gays serving in the country's armed forces was lifted in 2000 after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the restriction was a violation of human rights.
After that landmark ruling, soldiers and Royal Air Force personnel have been able to march officially in pride parades, but the London march was the a first for the navy.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-04.jpg)
Gay police association.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-05.jpg)
LGBT (London Gay, Bi and Transgendered) on the march.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-06.jpg)
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-07.jpg)
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-08.jpg)
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-09.jpg)
Noisy Socialist Students doing their shouty thing.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-10.jpg)
One of many, many, many drag queens seen on the day!
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-11.jpg)
GMFA ('the Gay Man's Health Charity') float trundles along Oxford Street.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-12.jpg)
Wandsworth LGBT Community Network float came complete with its own mobile closet!
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-13.jpg)
Bloke selling £1 whistles.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-14.jpg)
Not quite sure what's going on here.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-27.jpg)
Flag-waving types.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-15.jpg)
Flag flapping bloke giving it maximum swirl action.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-28.jpg)
Gay Muslim float.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-16.jpg)
Leftfooters FC gay/lesbian footie team - check out their website
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-17.jpg)
The Food Chain charity float. The charity provides nutrition services including home delivered meals, essential groceries and nutrition advice to men, women and children who are chronically sick as a result of HIV related illness - website
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-18.jpg)
The colourful Tropical Trannies float.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-19.jpg)
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-20.jpg)
The fabulous Actionettes doing their 60s hip-swinging thing. Actionettes website
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-21.jpg)
Crowds waving from the top of an office block.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-22.jpg)
More Actionettes.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-23.jpg)
Crowds by Oxford Circus.
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-24.jpg)
![Pride march, London, part of EuroPride, a gay, lesbian and transgender festival in London](images/pride-june06-26.jpg)
Actionettes heading down Regent Street.
|