GALLERY: Thousands take part in Glasgow Pride march marking 50 years since Stonewall riots
Organisers estimate around 9,000 people took to the streets yesterday as part of the Glasgow Pride parade.
The event this year marked 50 years since the Stonewall Uprising, the New York LGBTQ civil rights protest which sparked the Pride movement and demonstrations worldwide.
Businesses, charities and Scotland’s Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie were among those to take part alongside thousands of marchers.
Christopher Tait, chairman of Pride Glasgow, said: “It’s estimated over 9,000 people joined together today under a peaceful and happy banner either with friends, family or part of an organisation.
“We collectively demonstrated our passion and love in the city.
“We said we’d show everyone we could pull back after last year and I think it’s safe to say the community feel united again.”
The parade left Clydeside at 11.30am before taking a new route through the East end of the city centre, ending with community stalls at Broomielaw next to the Kingston Bridge.
Later in the day, celebrations moved to The Ferry and The Barrowlands where there was a line-up of performances, including drag acts, singers, DJs.
Last year’s event was marred by ticketing problems, and led to the resignation of former chief executive Alastair Smith.
Tickets to enter the charity’s march this year cost LGBT+ groups £120 for a walking group or £420 for commercial organisations, while it costs £600 to have a float at the event.
The Unite union announced on Thursday that it would not be taking part in the march after lambasting the “commercialisation” of the event.
The trade union’s Scottish LGBT+ committee issued a strongly worded statement criticising charges imposed on organisations to be part of the event and taking aim at big companies using Pride merely to “enhance their customer reach”.
Mr Tait replied by saying sponsorship was an “opportunity to help educate” organisations and businesses about the Pride movement.
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