See The History of Pride In The UK Through Pictures

As we approach what would've been this year's Pride weekend, look back at almost 50 years of love and acceptance.

UK Pride

by Shana Lynch |
Published on

Almost every year for the past 47 years, on the last Saturday of June or the first Saturday of July, people around the UK have come together to celebrate Pride. And this year was set to be no different with the 2020 Pride parade scheduled for 27 June. The Covid-19 pandemic, however, had other ideas and the event was postponed indefinitely in March.

The first UK Gay Pride Rally was held in London on 1 July 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. Since then, the event has spread to other cities across the UK, had several name changes and gotten bigger and better than ever with celebrity performances and numbers in the hundreds of thousands.

As we approach what would’ve been this year’s Pride weekend, let’s take a look back at the history of Pride in the UK through pictures of events past — from the very first rally almost 50 years ago to the rainbow-flag-filled parades of recent years.

Gallery

Pictured: The History of Pride in the UK - Grazia

Pride in the UK1 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1977

A Pride demonstration at the Old Bailey in London on 4th July 1977.

Pride in the UK2 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1978

The Pride parade in London in 1978.

Pride in the UK3 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1978

The Pride parade in London in 1978.

Pride in the UK4 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1983

The Pride parade in London in 1983.

Pride in the UK5 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1985

The Pride parade in London in 1985.

Pride in the UK6 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1985

The Pride parade in London in 1985.

Pride in the UK7 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1993

A couple hold hands during the annual Pride march through central London on 19 June 1993.

Pride in the UK8 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1994

A marcher dressed as Marilyn Monroe during the annual Pride march in London.

Pride in the UK9 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1995

A participant having her picture taken with a member of the Household Cavalry at Buckingham Palace during London Pride on 24 June 1995.

Pride in the UK10 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1995

Men in camouflage trousers ride a pink tank carrying rainbow flags during the London Pride parade on 24 June 1995.

Pride in the UK11 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1995

Marchers at the Pride parade make their way down Waterloo Place towards Trafalgar Square in London on 24 June 1995.

Pride in the UK12 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1996

Two young men sharing a moment on the grass during London Pride.

Pride in the UK13 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

1998

Marchers holding hands at the Pride event in London on 4 July 1998.

Pride in the UK14 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2000

Three men wearing matching blue swimming trunks take part in the London Pride march on 1 July 2000.

Pride in the UK15 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2002

Thousands of people march 6 July 2002 during the annual London Pride parade.

Pride in the UK16 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2006

Atmosphere during 2006 EuroPride Day & Pride Parade in London.

Pride in the UK17 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2006

The atmosphere during Manchester Pride in 2006.

Pride in the UK18 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2007

A carnival atmosphere in Trafalgar Square at the annual Pride march as thousands of colourful participants parade through London's West End.

Pride in the UK19 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2007

A scene on Brighton promenade during the annual Pride Festival.

Pride in the UK20 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2011

Revellers take part in the annual Pride parade in Central London on 2 July 2011.

Pride in the UK21 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2014

A couple with their baby share a kiss as they take part in the Pride parade on 28 June 2014.

Pride in the UK22 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2015

Police officers join in the annual Pride parade in London 27 June 2015 as thousands of people take part and attend performances at various locations across the city.

Pride in the UK23 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2015

A couple kiss in Trafalgar Square after the annual Pride in London Parade on 27 June 2015.

Pride in the UK24 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2016

A dragon in the rainbow colours is carried through the streets at the Brighton Pride Parade on 6 August 2016.

Pride in the UK25 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2017

Members of the LGBTQ community take part in the annual Pride Parade in London on 8 July 2017.

Pride in the UK26 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2018

A giant rainbow Pride flag is carried along the sea front during Brighton Pride 2018 on 4 August 2018.

Pride in the UK27 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2018

A carnival atmosphere during the Pride London parade near Trafalgar Square on 7 July 2018.

Pride in the UK28 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2019

The annual Trans Pride parade makes its way from Wellington Arch next to Hyde Park down to Soho square in London.

Pride in the UK29 of 29
CREDIT: Getty

2019

Thousands of members of the LGBTQ community gathered for the Birmingham Pride parade on 25 May 2019.

Want to show your support for the LGBTQ+ Community even though this year's parade is cancelled? Here's where to shop:

Gallery

SHOP: 34 Pride Buys That Will Benefit The LGBTQ+ Community

Converse, white chuck 70 pride hi trainers, £851 of 34

Converse, white chuck 70 pride hi trainers, £85

In celebration of Converse's annual Pride efforts, the 2021 collection celebrates everyone's individual journey to finding joy and freedom in being themselves. The collection benefits Converse's longtime partners globally and locally, including It Gets Better Project, Ali Forney Center, BAGLY and OUT MetroWest.

Jacqueline Loekito, Love Unites Us T-shirt, £602 of 34

Jacqueline Loekito, Love Unites Us T-shirt, £60

To celebrate Pride, Jacqueline Loekito will be donating 25% of its 'No Matter Your Gender Love Unites Us' T-shirts to the Okra Project, a collective that seeks to address the crisis faced by Black trans people by bringing them nutritious home-cooked food.

Bella Freud, 1970 Rainbow Candle, £483 of 34

Bella Freud, 1970 Rainbow Candle, £48

Over London's Pride weekend, Bella Freud will be 15% of sales from her 1970 candle to the Outside Project, the UK's first LGBT Q+ shelter and community centre.

Crystal Haze, Juan Necklace, £1684 of 34

Crystal Haze, Juan Necklace, £168

It doesn't get much more delicious than Crystal Haze's gummy bear necklace, with 10% of sales going straight to Norway's Foreningen FRI,

Pantherella, Shine Socks, £14.505 of 34

Pantherella, Shine Socks, £14.50

10% of sales from Pantherella's rainbow socks will go towards Trade Sexual Health, a health service that supports the LGBTQ+ communities of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Fossil, Limited Edition Pride Minimalist Three-Hand Watch Case, £696 of 34

Fossil, Limited Edition Pride Minimalist Three-Hand Watch Case, £69

This year, Fossil is partnering with The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth, and has pledged to make a minimum donation of $25,000 to the organisation. Fossil's Pride Month collection features the Minimalist watch case and an assortment of ten, vibrant straps so individuals can wear their pride in their own way.

Teva, Original Universal Pride, £457 of 34

Teva, Original Universal Pride, £45

Designed to celebrate equality and inclusion, this bold pride sandal elevates the Original with pops of color on the hardware and outsole. To help empower the LGBTQ+ community and support hard-fought freedoms, Teva is donating $35,000 to an LGBTQ+ organization.

Wrangler, Pride Sweat in Black, £508 of 34

Wrangler, Pride Sweat in Black, £50

In support of Pride 2021, Wrangler are donating $20,000 to ILGA. They raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues and campaign for the freedom to live equally.

Polo Ralph Lauren, Pride Cotton Graphic Tee, £759 of 34

Polo Ralph Lauren, Pride Cotton Graphic Tee, £75

Twenty-five per cent of the purchase price of this unisex T-shirt, which is part of Ralph Lauren's exclusive Pride capsule collection, will be donated to Stonewall Community Foundation, benefiting an international network of LGBTQIA+ organisations.

Levi's, Pride Sports Bra, £2510 of 34

Levi's, Pride Sports Bra, £25

Levi's have released a line of tees, denim and accessories with a call you can't ignore: respect all pronouns (because to use someone's pronouns is to see how they move through the world). 100% of net proceeds from the collection go to OutRight Action International, a nonprofit working to defend and advance human rights for LGBTQIA+ people around the globe. Their annual donation helps support the charity's work year-round.

Savage x Fenty, Embroidered Unlined Demi Bra, £6011 of 34

Savage x Fenty, Embroidered Unlined Demi Bra, £60

Rainbow and 'Pride' script embroidery decorate the sheer mesh tulle cups of this ultra-sexy bra. Savage x Fenty will make a flat donation of $250,000 from the sale of the June Pride capsule collection that will be distributed among five organisations supporting LGBTQIA+ communities, in partnership with Clara Lionel Foundation .

Sabinna, The T-shirt Set, £9712 of 34

Sabinna, The T-shirt Set, £97

Sabinna will be donating 10% of sales from its 'Love = Love' T-shirt black and white sets to the UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group.

Ugg, Fluff You Cali Collage Slide, £10013 of 34

Ugg, Fluff You Cali Collage Slide, £100

To show their continued support, UGG are donating $25 per pair of Disco Stripes purchased on UGG.com (up to a maximum of $125,000) to GLAAD in the US – a non-profit accelerating acceptance and advancing equality. They are also donating £20,000 to the Terrence Higgins Trust in the UK and to the Organization for Human Health and Happinessin Germany.

Nasty Gal, Pride Graphic T-Shirt, £1614 of 34

Nasty Gal, Pride Graphic T-Shirt, £16

Nasty Gal will be making a charitable donation to OutRight Action International, a charity dedicated to strengthening the capacity of the LGBTQIA+ human rights movement worldwide to effectively conduct documentation of human rights violations.

Primark, White Proud Rainbow Stripe Logo T-Shirt, £815 of 34

Primark, White Proud Rainbow Stripe Logo T-Shirt, £8

This year, Primark is sending its Pride range to every single Primark store so wherever you are you can pick up the colourful creations and show your support for the LGBTQI+ community. Plus, Primark are proud to continue to support ILGA World in its mission for LGBTQI+ equality with a £150,000 donation.

Peloton, Pride Water Bottle, £3016 of 34

Peloton, Pride Water Bottle, £30

The Peloton family is global, and is dedicated to supporting the safety, mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ communities across the globe. The brand will continue its work with four organisations – London Friend (UK), The Ali Forney Center (US), The 519 (Canada) and GLADT (Germany), donating $100,000 collectively.

The Kooples x Clement Legrand, Ecru Cotton T-shirt, £7017 of 34

The Kooples x Clement Legrand, Ecru Cotton T-shirt, £70

For Pride Month, The Kooples has teamed up with French artist Clément Legrand, who has created three original illustrations for the brand celebrating love in all its forms. The brand reinforces its support for the LGBTQ+ community and has committed to donating half of the proceeds from the sale of the capsule collection to GLAAD, an association that denounces discrimination and attacks against LGBTQ+ community in the media.

Crocs, Classic Seasonal Printed Clog, £44.9918 of 34

Crocs, Classic Seasonal Printed Clog, £44.99

Further demonstrating Crocs' commitment to inclusivity and support of advocacy efforts that will allow everyone the right to be comfortable in their own shoes, Crocs has proudly partnered with ILGA-Europe the driving force for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) equality.

Gap, The Gap Collective Pride Baby 100% Organic Cotton Bodysuit, £10.4719 of 34

Gap, The Gap Collective Pride Baby 100% Organic Cotton Bodysuit, £10.47

Gap is proud to donate $50,000 to GLAAD, a leading media advocacy organization working to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community.

Coach, Rainbow Signature Rexy T-Shirt, £12520 of 34

Coach, Rainbow Signature Rexy T-Shirt, £125

This T-shirt is part of the Coach Pride Collection, a celebration of equality, diversity, and authentic self-expression within the LGBTQIA+ community. The Coach Foundation has made donations to the Hetrick-Martin Institute (their longstanding partner), Albert Kennedy Trust, and new partners Point Foundation and CenterLink Community of LGBTQ Centers.

Radley London, Beach Bag - Pride, £10921 of 34

Radley London, Beach Bag - Pride, £109

When you buy the Beach Close Pride bag, you are supporting Stonewallin their fight for the freedom, equity and potential of all LGBTQ+ people around the world. Stonewall's work will continue until every LGBTQ+ person is free to be themselves.

Hand & Lock, Rainbow Pin Badge, £1522 of 34

Hand & Lock, Rainbow Pin Badge, £15

Throughout the month of June and in celebration of Pride month, British heritage brand Hand & Lock are donating all proceeds from the Rainbow Pin Badge sales to the Mermaids charity. Mermaids Charity has been helping gender-diverse kids, young people and their families since 1995.

Pampeano x Colours Youth Network, Igualdad belt, £6523 of 34

Pampeano x Colours Youth Network, Igualdad belt, £65

Argentinian luxury leather goods brand Pampeano will be donating 100% of all profits from every Igualdad belt sold to the Colours Youth Network.

With Love Darling, GLOBAL GOAL # 5: EQUALITY HEART BEADED BRACELET, £3524 of 34

With Love Darling, GLOBAL GOAL # 5: EQUALITY HEART BEADED BRACELET, £35

With Love Darling, the new sustainable jewellery brand, wanted to wave their rainbow flag high for Pride, and what better way to shout support than by donating 100% of proceeds to The Trevor Project from their Equality collection, all month long!

Happy Socks, Pride Sock, £11.9725 of 34

Happy Socks, Pride Sock, £11.97

Happy Socks designed rainbow-colored styles to help you walk with Pride, and have teamed up InterPride, who get 10% of the profits from every Pride pair sold throughout the year.

Toms, Unity Cupsole Alpargata, £4426 of 34

Toms, Unity Cupsole Alpargata, £44

With every TOMS purchase, you help to support grassroots organisations like Brave Trails — a leadership-focused summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth.

Pop Sockets, Rainbow Flow, £9.9927 of 34

Pop Sockets, Rainbow Flow, £9.99

50% of all sales from the Pride Collection will be donated to AKT - the national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, providing safe homes and better futures for LGBTQ+ young people.

Matalan, NSPCC Pride Bag For Life, £528 of 34

Matalan, NSPCC Pride Bag For Life, £5

The Love is Limitless Pride tote bag costs just £5 and is sold exclusively at Matalan in selected stores and online now, with 100% of the proceeds going to the NSPCC, which will continue to help Childline be here for all children and young people in need.

Sock Shop, Pride Rainbow Love Is Love Socks, £3.9929 of 34

Sock Shop, Pride Rainbow Love Is Love Socks, £3.99

SOCKSHOP have launched their Pride Rainbow Love is Love Socks once again with 20% of each sale going to the LGBT foundation!

Abercrombie & Fitch, Pride Bucket Hat, £2530 of 34

Abercrombie & Fitch, Pride Bucket Hat, £25

In support of Pride 2021 and their ongoing partnership, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is donating $200,000 USD to The Trevor Project.

New Look, Black Rainbow Love Wins Logo Pride Charity T-Shirt, £9.9931 of 34

New Look, Black Rainbow Love Wins Logo Pride Charity T-Shirt, £9.99

High street brand New Look are donating 100% of all profits to the LGBT Foundation. Our partnership will be funding their Volunteering Programme in 2021, helping people to harness their lived experience, build new skills and amplify impact across all of LQBTQIA+ services which exists to help ensure a safe, healthy and equal future for all LQBTQIA+ people.

BOSS, Rainbow-logo hoodie, £14932 of 34

BOSS, Rainbow-logo hoodie, £149

To celebrate Pride, BOSS launches a campaign in support of ILGA World. The campaign features actor, writer, director, photographer, and activist, Tommy Dorfman and Peter Zurkuhlen who is Chief of Staff of Get Help and programming board member of the Los Angeles Chapter of StartOut, which champions LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs.

Schuh, beige proud trust cotton bag, £233 of 34

Schuh, beige proud trust cotton bag, £2

The schuh Proud Trust Cotton Bag celebrates Pride! All profits from the tote bag sales will go directly to The Proud Trust, a LGBTQ+ youth charity that helps empower young people in the UK.

Crystal Head Vodka, Pride limited-edition vodka 1.75l,  £14034 of 34

Crystal Head Vodka, Pride limited-edition vodka 1.75l, £140

The new Crystal Head Vodka Pride Edition Magnum has just in time for Pride Month. The 1.75l bottle is priced at £140 available firstly from Selfridges - a percentage of sales will go to the brand's charity partner Kaleidoscope Trust, the international LGBT+ human rights charity

READ MORE: What Is The 15 Percent Pledge? Here's How It Is Supporting Black-Owned Businesses

READ MORE: Has Pride Has Become A Commercial Cash Cow?

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us