LGBT+ flag raised outside Parliament, celebrating 50 years of Pride in the UK

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House, raised a rainbow flag at the main entrance of Parliament today.

In 2022, Pride in London honours 50 years of Pride in the UK.

Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle invited co-workers to pose with the flag before it was hoisted up the pole for the first time in history at New Palace Yard today (June 30).

Sir Hoyle said of the moment: “I am delighted to be an ally of Parliament’s vibrant LGBT+ community, which allows MPs and our staff to bring their whole selves to work with pride.”

Adding, “Not only is this year particularly special for the Gay Pride movement but being able to march without COVID restrictions will make it an even more joyous event.”

He also said that it was ‘an important moment for the Commons to be out and proud with the LGBT flag – half a century after the first London Pride march’.

🏳️‍🌈 Feelin’ proud 🏳️‍🌈

Great to join @CommonsSpeaker and colleagues from across Westminster ahead of the Pride flag raising in the grounds of Parliament.

It was a great opportunity to come together to recognise progress made and work still to be done.

Together we can get there 🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/5P0eqMOarl

— Elliot Colburn MP (@ElliotColburn) June 29, 2022

Despite the UK Government’s sketchy LGBTQ+ stance this year, it’s great to see someone so high up the political ladder making a real statement in solidarity of queer life and culture. Sure it’s not the Progress flag but baby steps….

Pride in London returns to the capital this weekend with more than 1.5m people expected to attend following its two-year COVID hiatus.

Saturday’s parade honours the UK’s first Pride March, then organised by members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) on July 1, 1972.

The parade, which will kick-off at Hyde Park Corner at midday, is set to show London’s ‘visibility, unity, and equality for LGBTQ+ people’.

More than 30,000 people and nearly 600 community groups will march in the parade with far more expected to line the streets and attend events.