In Photos: Manchester Pride 2012

Manchester saw tens of thousands of people take to the streets to take part in the city’s LGBT pride parade, part of a long weekend of celebrations in the Northern city.

Aside from the usual celebrations of LGBT life, pride organisers sent out an important message of solidarity to the people of St Petersburg, where such an event would be illegal. Leaflets and flags were given to the spectators at today’s parade and a special banner, carrying a message of solidarity for LGBT people in St Petersburg, will be carried through the streets. It will also be sent to St Petersburg after Pride.

Councillor Bev Craig said: “This shows that Manchester Pride is about much more than celebration – it’s also about solidarity, it’s about protest, it’s about getting angry about injustice. And it is about all of us – gay and straight – taking a stand to say that human dignity is a universal right. I’m proud that we are showing that politics is very much still at the heart of Pride.”

We’ve collected some of the best photos sent in by PinkNews readers and posted on Twitter from today’s celebrations. Is yours included?

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