Pride celebrations continue online as Covid-19 postpones parades

Rainbow flag at the Pride in London parade Credit: PA

Pride celebrations usually attended by hundreds of thousands of people have moved online in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the UK June is marked as Pride Month, with many celebratory events typically organised across the country.

One of the largest is Pride in London, which attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Person dressed in rainbow suit at Price in London 2019 Credit: PA

Last year’s event marked 50 years since the Stonewall uprising in New York – a moment which changed the face of the gay rights movement around the world.

The 2020 event was scheduled for Saturday but has been postponed due to the pandemic.

Many members of the LGBT community have instead opted to hold online celebrations throughout Pride month.

One such event is a 24-hour live stream celebration, Global Pride, which will take place on Saturday from 6am.

Politicians and world leaders are set to take part in the event including US Presidential candidate Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, outgoing Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon are also listed to take part.

Many celebrities will also take part and perform in the live stream such as Elton John, Stephen Fry and Natasha Bedingfield.

Some in-person events are being planned ahead of the end of Pride month.

In London, demonstrators will hold a Black Trans Lives Matter demonstration to remember and celebrate black transgender people as well as protesting outside Downing Street.

Human rights activist Peter Tatchell and former Gay Liberation Front members will also march in the capital on Saturday.

The activists, some of whom are in their 70s and 80s, will march the route usually taken by the Pride in London parade calling for political action including the end of deportations for LGBT asylum seekers.

Other online events will continue after Saturday, with charities including Amnesty International and Stonewall starting a week of celebration on Sunday.

The Pride Inside events will include LGBT performers and speakers and will last until July 5.