News story

Armed forces on parade at Pride in London

Service personnel proudly marched in their uniforms at London's biggest gay pride event.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 30 June 2014

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

A member of the British Army at Pride in London

Personnel from all 3 services celebrated their diversity on Saturday 28 June by marching in the UK’s biggest gay pride event in London.

More than 130 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) serving personnel and heterosexual ‘LGBT Allies’ marched together in uniform at Pride in London to celebrate the freedom for LGBT people to live their lives without discrimination.

Army personnel marching at Pride in London [Picture: Nicolas Chinardet]

This is the seventh time armed forces personnel have marched at Pride, and comes as the services approach the 15th year anniversary of the end of the ban on gay personnel.

Since the ban was lifted, all 3 services and MOD have worked hard to create inclusive workplaces and all have featured in the Stonewall top 100 index of LGBT-friendly employers.

Royal Navy personnel taking part in Pride in London [Picture: Nicolas Chinardet]

As Pride in London took place on Armed Forces Day, the event was also an opportunity for personnel to represent their respective service and demonstrate their own personal pride in their uniform.

Following the main Pride parade through central London, service personnel marched down Whitehall to salute the fallen at the Cenotaph in poignant recognition of the many LGBT people who have served Britain throughout history.

Royal Air Force personnel marching through Piccadilly Circus in London [Picture: Nicolas Chinardet]

All photographs kindly provided by Nicolas Chinardet. For more pictures from the event, visit Nicolas’ Flickr page.

Published 30 June 2014