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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Pride celebration gets under way | Pride celebration gets under way |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of people are turning central London into a sea of colour as they take part in the annual Pride march. | Thousands of people are turning central London into a sea of colour as they take part in the annual Pride march. |
| The parade passes the West End, bringing the area to a standstill in celebration of gay, lesbian, 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. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown met organisers at Downing Street ahead of the march. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown met organisers at Downing Street ahead of the march. |
| This year's Pride follows a political row over a Labour minister's claims that many Tory MPs are homophobic. | This year's Pride follows a political row over a Labour minister's claims that many Tory MPs are homophobic. |
| Among the the equalities campaigners who attended the garden party at Number 10 was festival patron and comic Rhona Cameron, who led the parade. | |
| Mr Brown's wife, Sarah, wore colourful necklaces over black clothes and carried a pink, red and white version of the union jack as she joined the head of the march. | Mr Brown's wife, Sarah, wore colourful necklaces over black clothes and carried a pink, red and white version of the union jack as she joined the head of the march. |
| Thousands of people lined the route of the parade, some dressed as flamboyantly as the participants. | Thousands of people lined the route of the parade, some dressed as flamboyantly as the participants. |
| Rubber suits | Rubber suits |
| The marchers as they made their way along Oxford Street, followed by drag queens in huge blonde wigs and union jack outfits. | The marchers as they made their way along Oxford Street, followed by drag queens in huge blonde wigs and union jack outfits. |
| One group in Regent Street wore rubber suits and masks decorated with ropes. | One group in Regent Street wore rubber suits and masks decorated with ropes. |
| A drag queen, wearing a dress made from plastic sheeting and used drink cans, also caused a stir - and lots of noise - when she walked past. | A drag queen, wearing a dress made from plastic sheeting and used drink cans, also caused a stir - and lots of noise - when she walked past. |
| 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". | 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. |
| In pictures: Pride party politics | In pictures: Pride party politics |
| However, Pride founder Peter Tatchell 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 said on Friday he was planning to press Mrs Brown to speak to her husband about giving gay people the right to marry in the same way as heterosexual couples. | He said on Friday he was planning to press Mrs Brown to speak to her husband about giving gay people the right to marry in the same way as heterosexual couples. |
| During the march, Mr Tatchell carried a sign saying: "Gordon and Sarah can marry, gays can't. End the ban on gay marriage." | During the march, Mr Tatchell carried a sign saying: "Gordon and Sarah can marry, gays can't. End the ban on gay marriage." |
| Last week, a 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. | Last week, a 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 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. |