In Argentina, public buildings and monuments will be lit in the rainbow colours of the gay rights movement, and local activists have organised a week of online events, even though Gay Pride is normally celebrated there in November. “Pride is particularly poignant this year,” he said.
“Because of the movement they sparked and the decades of work that followed, marriage equality became the law of the land five years ago and just this month the Supreme Court ruled that employers can no longer discriminate against LGBTQ workers,” he said.ĭemocratic presidential contender Joe Biden issued his own message on video, in which he referred to a recent Supreme Court ruling reaffirming LGBT workers. In the United States, former president Barack Obama released a video message paying tribute to the gay New Yorkers who rioted at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, effectively launching the modern gay rights movement. Global Pride, put together by the organisers of several of the major Gay Pride events around the world, was aiming to attract hundreds of millions of viewers around the world. Politicians were also appearing, including Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado, whose country has just legalised gay marriage. The online Global Pride event - running with the slogan “Exist, persist, resist” - got underway at 0500 GMT in London.įronted by singer and drag queen Todrick Hall, known for his role on the American Idol talent show, it also featured stars such as Kesha and Ava Max. Vienna's Rainbow Parade, which normally attracts hundreds of thousands of people, was otherwise replaced by online events.
Organisers said around 5,000 people turned out to watch the scaled-down event. In Vienna, around 200 cars and motorbikes decked out in rainbow flags and inflatable unicorns paraded down the city's famous Ringstrasse on Saturday afternoon. In Berlin, police estimated that around 3,500 people marched in temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).įoreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted a message of support to the Global Pride event: “Be proud of yourself! No matter who you love, no matter where you live.” “We may be apart, but we are still united, as neighbours, as allies, and as one city.” Some events were broadcast on the giant screen in Piccadilly Square and London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, tweeted his support. “We are seeking to reclaim Pride as an event for LGBT+ human rights,” said the 68-year-old campaigner.