London Pride sees first trailer for new gay activism film set in 1980s Wales
The first trailer of upcoming gay comedy ‘Pride’ was shown at the Trafalgar Square stage of London’s Pride event, Saturday, to mark 30 years since the origins of a gay movement which supported striking miners’ unions.
The film, set in a Welsh village, is based on the true story of the LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners), a group of gay activists who raised money to support striking miners in 1984 despite opposition within the mining community and without.
It stars Bill Nighy and Dominic West, among other big names, and was directed by Marcus Warchus.
Its launch trailer was shown to crowds congregating in Trafalgar Square after the parade, and awaiting performances from Sinita, the London Gay Big Band and Conchita Wurst.
Some of the original members of the LGSM marched in the preceding parade, under banners produced as props for the film.
As part of the film’s publicity, t-shirts were being handed out along the march and afterwards bearing the slogan “Pits and Perverts”, first used as a derogative term for the movement by the press but later reclaimed as the title of the benefit concert shown in the film.
Imelda Staunton, who stars in ‘Pride’, appeared on stage with Mike Jackson, who co-founded the LGSM, to introduce the new trailer.
A video message shortly afterwards from the Trade Union Congress, which held its annual LGBT conference last week, served to remind attendees of Pride’s more political origins, while Ian McKellen made special mention of the event’s pioneers during his speech later in the afternoon.
‘Pride’, which is released in September, has already received critical acclaim. It won the ‘Queer Palm’ award at Cannes in May, the first British film ever to do so.
