An estimated one million revelers took
part in London's gay pride parade Saturday, the BBC reported.
About 150 floats wound their way from
Baker Street to Trafalgar Square, where the party will keep humming
well into the night.
A float titled Gay Liberation Front
at 40, celebrating the accomplishments of the gay rights group
that organized the city's first gay pride parade, led the parade
through the city's crowded streets.
London Mayor Boris Johnson called the
party “one of the most highly anticipated events of the year.”
Johnson, who attended the parade, said
that he was proud of his city's reputation “as a place where you
can be yourself.”
The organizing committee of the 2012
Olympic Games inaugurated their gay pride pin badge at the parade.
The pins, which feature the rainbow flag and the London 2012 Olympic
logo, are also being sold at London
2012's online shop for £5
(about $7.60).
Gareth Thomas, the Welsh rugby player
who came out gay last December, urged people to “wear their pin
badge with pride” to help the committee “achieve greater
inclusion in sport.”
Also among the crowd were openly gay
Conservative policing minister Nick Herbert and Liberal Democrat
equality minister Lynne Featherstone.
London is the host city of 2012
WorldPride, a two-week long touring gay pride festival taking place
ahead of the Olympic Games.