LONDON, September 16  –  Two of the world’s most famous – and busiest – streets will be used for next year’s EuroPride Parade being staged in London.  The ‘dream’ of parading down Oxford Street and Regent Street will become a reality.

EuroPride Parade on Saturday 1 July 2006, will line up at Marble Arch before setting off, for the first time, down the world famous Oxford Street.

The star-studded Head of Parade section will make its colourful way along Oxford Street to Oxford Circus turning right down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus. From here the route moves on to Trafalgar Square then along Whitehall to pass the Houses of Parliament before dispersing along Victoria Embankment. Festivities continue in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and throughout Soho.

The Mayor of London is delighted, as Pride London organisers get closer to the shared dream of creating an event for the capital city to rival Sydney Mardi Gras..

“Pride has become a key event in the capital’s cultural calendar – an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of London's lesbian and gay community, whilst making a big statement about equality,” said Ken Livingstone today.

“The new route for 2006 shows how the Pride Parade gets bigger and better every year – and a step closer to becoming an event to rival other gay and lesbian festivals.”

The Pride Parade will double in size to include up to 80 floats and around 200 costumed groups and walking bands.

“We have been negotiating with the authorities for these key streets for some time” said Pride London Chief Executive Jason Pollock.

“Thanks to the joint co-operation of Westminster Council, the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London, we now have our ideal Pride Parade route.  This is a landmark in our unique 35 year history and shows the level of integration we have already achieved.”

Pride London will be hosting the EuroPride event in 2006.  The new route for the EuroPride Parade and events in central London during the day will rocket Pride London into one of the city’s major attractions and will boost the planned promotion by the tourist boards as they market EuroPride to LGBT travellers throughout the world.

It is estimated that up to a million extras visitors could travel to London, Europe’s gay capital, during Europride month June 2006. .

EuroPride Festival starts on 1 June 2006 and is already attracting a number of fundraising galas, theatre productions, art exhibitions and other events around the city.  Its is anticipated that over 400 events will be registered for EuroPride, far exceeding this year's 350 productions and exhibitions.

LINKS

Pride London website
Visit London official gay and lesbian website