In English, the term ‘Pride’ refers to a sense of self-respect, a refusal to be humiliated and a joy in one’s accomplishments.

1972 saw Britain’s first Gay Pride march, where about 700 lesbians and gays marched down Oxford Street to Hyde Park. Since then, Pride has increased in size and publicity with the arrival of 250,000 people in 2005. Attitudes have certainly changed, with support from the likes of the Metropolitan Police, the Mayor of London, British Airways, Virgin Mobile and Ford. But, has Pride become more of a commercial holiday than a ‘joy in one’s accomplishments’? Maybe this year’s EuroPride had the answer…

The weather was more than perfect, with locals and tourists gathering to watch the march as it paraded down Baker Street, through Regent Street and finally ending on the Embankment. Trafalgar Square held a variety of entertainment, whilst the Cabaret Stage in Leicester Square fought to rival the party in Soho. Europride organisers claim 750,000 revelers were drawn to the capital for the festival, though the Police reported about 40,000 turned up for the parade. The parade was filled with groups from around the country and abroad, advertising their cause and adding to the eccentric and outrageous quality that Pride has always had. Slight disturbances from upset and drunken England fans didn’t cause a major problem, and the overall organisation of the event was smooth and successful.

"This was without doubt the most spectacular Pride festival London has ever seen. The record-breaking parade on Saturday and the thrilling show at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, made it the perfect Pride weekend that exceeded all expectations,” said Jason Pollock.

Something was missing though… The ambience and ‘buzz’ that was so potent last year, completely lacked this time. Sure, people were dancing in Soho and we even saw Victoria Beckham hanging around 'The Village' (aka Igor Scopelliti) and it was reasonably ‘busy’ with muscle boys, leather clad skin heads and the typical array of stereotypes mingling with the masses, but that’s a feature of Old Compton Street every Saturday night. We noticed that many pined to get away from the crowds and settle in a bar with friends, due to being bored by the lack of imagination or effort by the organisers. No longer was it Pride: a day where we all got together, had fun and celebrated our achievements, but Pride: a day of commercial greed and a hangover with nothing to show for it.

Images 1-4 supplied courtesy of 3Sixty. 5-6 supplied courtesy of Alun Hill MCIJ 2006. 7 Igor Scopelliti. Review by Aaron Hales.