F or today’s gay community, Pride is an annual fixture, a reminder of how previous generations battled for our rights and how we must not only continue to defend them today but also fight for inequality around the globe. Its roots were planted in the UK 50 years ago on 1 July 1972, when the world’s first gay rights march to use the name ‘Pride’ took place in London. It was organised by the Gay Liberation Front (GLF).
A UK off shoot of the first GLF that was formed in America, this small group was founded in London in 1970. At that time, despite the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK in 1967, two males kissing in public still risked arrest. Although the GLF was determined to challenge such homophobia head-on, its objectives were not what you might suppose.