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PM meets Pride team before parade Pride celebration gets under way
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is welcoming equality rights campaigners to Downing Street before the annual Pride march through central London. Thousands of people are turning central London into a sea of colour as they take part in the annual Pride march.
His wife, Sarah, is expected to join the colourful celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender culture. The parade passes the West End, bringing the area to a standstill in celebration of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender culture.
This year's theme is Come Out and Play and a host of flamboyant floats will give the West End a party atmosphere. Prime Minister Gordon Brown met organisers at Downing Street ahead of the march.
The Downing Street meeting follows a row over a Labour minister's claims that many Tory MPs are homophobic. This year's Pride follows political a row over a Labour minister's claims that many Tory MPs are homophobic.
Among the festival's organisers and patrons due to attend was comic Rhona Cameron. Among the the equalities campaigners who attended the garden party at Number 10 was comic Rhona Cameron.
In his message to Pride London, Mr Brown described the creation of civil partnerships as one of a set of "massive strides towards equality" for the gay community made under Labour - "often in the face of fierce opposition". Mr Brown's wife, Sarah, wore colourful necklaces over black clothes as she joined the head of the march.
Passers-by cheered the marchers as they made their way along Oxford Street, followed by drag queens in huge blonde wigs and union jack outfits.
'Sexual apartheid''Sexual apartheid'
Mr Brown had earlier described the creation of civil partnerships as one of a set of "massive strides towards equality" for the gay community made under Labour - "often in the face of fierce opposition".
"This government is committed to standing at your shoulders in the fight for equality and we are guided by one very simple principle when it comes to LGBT rights: you can't legislate love," he said."This government is committed to standing at your shoulders in the fight for equality and we are guided by one very simple principle when it comes to LGBT rights: you can't legislate love," he said.
Pride founder Peter Tatchell, expected to march alongside Mrs Brown, has described civil partnerships for same-sex couples as "a form of sexual apartheid". However, Pride founder Peter Tatchell has described civil partnerships for same-sex couples as "a form of sexual apartheid".
He claims they institutionalise different marriage laws for heterosexual and homosexual people.He claims they institutionalise different marriage laws for heterosexual and homosexual people.
Mr Tatchell said he hoped to persuade Mrs Brown to talk to the PM about it.Mr Tatchell said he hoped to persuade Mrs Brown to talk to the PM about it.
In pictures: Pride party politicsIn pictures: Pride party politics
Meanwhile, the political row over homosexuality rumbles on. The political row was triggered when Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw, who is openly gay, told a public debate there remained a "deep strain of homophobia" running through the Conservative Party.
It was triggered when Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw, who is openly gay, told a public debate there remained a "deep strain of homophobia" running through the Conservative Party.
It provoked an angry reaction from Alan Duncan, one of two gay members of the shadow cabinet, who accused Labour of "poisonous mudslinging" in a bid to stir up hatred and reopen old divisions.It provoked an angry reaction from Alan Duncan, one of two gay members of the shadow cabinet, who accused Labour of "poisonous mudslinging" in a bid to stir up hatred and reopen old divisions.
"It is deeply unworthy and unjustified," he said."It is deeply unworthy and unjustified," he said.
Mr Bradshaw has since recognised the work of Tory modernisers such as David Cameron, via his blog.Mr Bradshaw has since recognised the work of Tory modernisers such as David Cameron, via his blog.
But he encouraged voters to examine the voting records of Conservative backbenchers on gay issues.But he encouraged voters to examine the voting records of Conservative backbenchers on gay issues.
Commons Leader Harriet Harman has also weighed in by criticising the Conservatives for voting against her Equalities Bill.Commons Leader Harriet Harman has also weighed in by criticising the Conservatives for voting against her Equalities Bill.
She told pinknews.co.uk that Mr Cameron's apology earlier this week for his party's 1980s controversial Section 28 ban on the promotion of homosexuality was "25 years too late".She told pinknews.co.uk that Mr Cameron's apology earlier this week for his party's 1980s controversial Section 28 ban on the promotion of homosexuality was "25 years too late".