Pride In Brighton And Belfast: Thousands Line Streets For Parades Celebrating LGBTQ Rights

One of the UK's biggest celebrations of LGBTQ rights kicked off in Sussex seaside resort while Irish premier Leo Varadkar joined the party in Northern Ireland.
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Brighton’s annual pride event is well underway in the seaside city as thousands lined the streets to celebrate LGBTQ rights.

The march celebrated β€œGenerations of Love” and commemorated the 50-year anniversary of the Stonewall Inn uprising in New York, which ignited the Pride movement.

It is followed by hours of partying and live music in Preston Park – headlined by Kylie Minogue – and at venues around the city.

Around 300,000 people are expected to attend through the course of the day.

Wonderful to see the #Pride flag travelling down North Road, held aloft by the fabulous Pridemakers. #WeStandTogether (Photo: @BrightonandHoveCouncil) pic.twitter.com/SUGnfvcljD

β€” Brighton & Hove Pride (@PrideBrighton) August 3, 2019
Gearing up for Pride in Brighton.
Gearing up for Pride in Brighton.
Tristan Fewings via Getty Images
One of the floats makes its way through the city.
One of the floats makes its way through the city.
PA Wire/PA Images

My first #BrightonPride out as Queer. All my atoms are vibrating πŸ₯³ #loveislove pic.twitter.com/VGdb2Kby2M

β€” Hazel (@HazeFletcher) August 3, 2019
Partygoers in Brighton.
Partygoers in Brighton.
PA Wire/PA Images

Happy #BrightonPride 🌈 pic.twitter.com/bubV95gtWh

β€” Tracy S (@flowersxxx) August 3, 2019

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, Irish premier Leo Varadkar has joined Belfast’s Pride parade for the first time.

Varadkar posted photos on Twitter as joined thousands of people attending this year’s Pride march in the city centre.

His presence will be seen as significant as same-sex marriage remains a contentious political issue in Northern Ireland.

The parade, which kicked off from Custom House, is making its way through the city.

Varadkar’s visit comes two years after he attended a Pride breakfast in Belfast to promote the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Speaking in front of thousands of people at Belfast’s Custom House Square, he said: β€œI want to say how great it is to be in Belfast today.

β€œI always say the biggest parade that happens in Northern Ireland isn’t orange or green, it’s rainbow-coloured. It’s really great to see it today.

β€œI had a real honour today to walk with Lord Hayward, who, along with Conor McGinn, put the legislation through the Commons and Lords to bring about marriage equality here in a few months’ time. So we really want to thank them.

β€œWhat we see today in Belfast is Northern Ireland at its very best. Open, inclusive, diverse and for everyone. Thank you so much and happy Pride.”

Biggest march in Northern Ireland is not orange or green, it’s rainbow coloured. This is NI at its best. Best of Britishness and Irishness. pic.twitter.com/H0mj63nFlK

β€” Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) August 3, 2019
Irish premier Leo Varadkar at Belfast Pride.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar at Belfast Pride.
AFP

HAPPY PRIDE BELFAST! (Someone asked me to hold their baby I was so happy) β€πŸ§‘πŸ’›πŸ’šπŸ’™πŸ’œ pic.twitter.com/uTCnzN9wLD

β€” πŸŒˆβ™€πŸŒˆ (@sea_skunk) August 3, 2019
Belfast Pride celebrations.
Belfast Pride celebrations.
PA Media:Ready News UK
Unicorns at Belfast Pride event.
Unicorns at Belfast Pride event.
PA Media:Ready News UK
The parade underway in Belfast.
The parade underway in Belfast.
PA Media:Ready News UK
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