You Can Now Apply To Be In The 2024 Pride In London Parade

Pride in London is a not-for-profit organisation with an aim to provide a platform for all LGBTQ+ people across London. Run by a large group of selfless and committed volunteers, this is the most diverse Pride in the UK, and a month-long celebration that puts the LGBTQ+ community centre stage. It’s also extremely fun. Here’s how to celebrate Pride in London in 2024.

What Is Pride?

Pride is a global event dedicated to acknowledging, accepting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. In London, it’s perhaps the only occasion where such a bright light is shone on the issues the community and people within it face and aims to represent every part of London’s LGBTQ+ community, including those who are ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, questioning, intersex, non-binary, asexual, polysexual, genderqueer and gender variant’.

While from the outside it might just seem like an excuse to celebrate, it’s important to remember the real reason Pride is and should be such a big deal. Same-sex marriages were only legalised in England in 2014. The Gender Recognition Act came into effect in 2004, but was criticised harshly by many members of the House of Lords – and still is. And, regardless of laws in place to protect and promise respect to LGBTQ+ people, violence and intolerance against can be found far more easily than we’d like.

How To Celebrate Pride In London

(c) NIM, Unsplash

The Parade

When Is London’s Pride Parade?

The next London Pride Parade will take place on Saturday 29 June 2024.

What Is The Theme Of The 2024 Parade?

The theme for 2024 has yet to be announced. In 2023, the Pride in London parade was all about trans allyship, with the slogan ‘Never March Alone’.

Can You Take Part In The Parade?

Established groups and organisations – think employee networks, non-profits, the public sector and businesses – can now apply for a spot in the parade. Applications can be submitted via prideinlondon.org

Individuals and small groups can also take part; applications for smaller groups and solo flag bearers will open in May 2024.

In 2023, over 600 LGBT+ community groups signed up to march in the parade, with 30,000 people registered overall.

Who Will Be Performing At This Year’s Pride Parade?

This year, we had some fantastic performances from the likes of Adam Lambert and Idina Menzel, who took over a temporary stage set up on Trafalgar Square.

The musical line-up has yet to be announced for next year, but Troye Sivan is set to be in the UK for his 2024 tour that weekend – so keep your fingers crossed…

(c) Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona, Unsplash

London Pride 2024: Events & Things To Do

Hundreds of events take place every year. We’re still waiting on the full schedule and line-up for London Pride 2024, but all events will ultimately be listed on the event’s official website. prideinlondon.org

Can You Support Pride Even If You Can’t Go To An Event?

Yes, you can support Pride from anywhere in the world. Celebrations take place all over the world – and welcome all, whether you are part of the LGBTQ+ community or a committed ally – but if you can’t make it to an event, you can still donate to a number of causes:

• Stonewall: Programmes, campaigns and fundraising to protect the LGBTQ+ people
• LGBT Foundation: Helping improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people
• akt: Supports LGBTQ+ young people who are homeless or living in hostile environments
• MindOut: Mental health service run by and for LGBTQ+ people
• The Albert Kennedy Foundation: Supporting homeless and vulnerable young LGBTQ+ people

Discover more charities at charitynavigator.org

Featured image: Mercedes Mehling, Unsplash