Pride in London is asking LGBTQ Londoners to share their love stories to create an interactive map of the city as it launches this year's theme.
After promising to be a more inclusive pride festival, with ‘less focus on gay, white men’, organisers are asking the LGBTQ community to share their love stories from across the capital to show #LoveHappensHere.
The map will pin point cherished moments for London’s LGBTQ community with memories ‘from the street where you had your first kiss, to the neighbourhood where you felt confident enough to step out as who you are, to the bar you first danced the night away in Soho’.
The number of ‘love pins’ is unlimited and Londoners will be able to read the stories on the interactive map at prideinlondon.org when the festival launches in June.
“Our Love Happens Here campaign will celebrate people’s experiences of love in all its forms,” said Pride in London co-chair Alison Camps.
“Family and friends, the kindness of strangers, the times someone was there for you when you needed them the most. And the important moments you felt you were able to love yourself – your true self. Working together, we will blanket our city with love.
“This year we are going to show the world that there is an abundance of love in our great city of London.
“The LGBT+ community continues to battle against discrimination and our campaign is going to send a message to those people who still wish our community harm that love will always conquer hate.”
Londoners can add their stories to the map by sharing their pictures on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #LoveHappensHere, or via this link.
Taking a ‘defiant stand against hate’, Pride in London will this year mark 50 years since the legalisation of homosexuality in the UK.
Running from June 24 until July 9, the festival will include a series of talks, arts and community events, theatre, dance and screenings, as well as the Pride march on Saturday, July 8.
Last year the capital celebrated its biggest ever march as 40,000 people took to the streets in the wake of the shootings at gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando that killed 49 people.
