Tower Hamlets Council supported the London Pride festivities this year by funding local LGBT+ charity, Rainbow Hamlets, to run London’s first Pride Bus service with a classic Routemaster.
More than 40 volunteers engaged with residents and businesses along the parade route, promoting hate crime reporting, the prevention of domestic violence, smoking cessation and LGBT+ volunteering opportunities in the borough.
Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs, said: “I am proud that London’s first Pride Bus Service was funded by Tower Hamlets Council.
“We are committed to supporting all of the borough’s communities and to ensuring that diversity is celebrated wherever possible.”
Jack Gilbert, Executive Director of Rainbow Hamlets added: “This was my 30th Pride, and Rainbow Hamlets’ second, and it was one of the most powerful of my life.
“Pride may just seem to be a chance for a party but in fact at its heart it is about liberation.
“I pay tribute to the past forum members, to the current board, to Salma our talented caseworker, and to all our fabulous volunteers.
“You are all amazing. We are building something very special together.”
Meanwhile, 50 officers and staff from across the Metropolitan Police Service took part in the annual Pride parade through central London on Saturday, June 27 to celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
The organisers gave awards to the nine best groups in the parade. Out of more than 250, the Met’s entry won ‘crowd favourite’.
The float consisted of an operational vehicle with the blue lights shining brightly to help make the 50 officers and staff from the Met’s LGBT community walking the route stand out.
To support their LGBT work, the Met launched a new Twitter account @MetLGBT during ‘Pride in London’ week in the run-up to the Pride parade in the capital.
PC Lee Hawkins, LGBT and Hate Crime Liaison Officer at Tower Hamlets said: “Our new @MetLGBT Twitter account will enable us to recognise and celebrate the messages of equality, fairness, and acceptance online with people from across London and the world.
“Tower Hamlets police and council are committed to working in partnership with and for the LGBT community, to tackle hate crime in all forms, so that together we can ensure that Tower Hamlets is ‘No Place for Hate’.”