Mayor of London Sadiq Khan condemns Donald Trump for not recognising LGBT people at Pride in London
PinkNews Exclusive
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called on American President Trump to recognise the LGBT community and their “great” contribution during Pride in London 2017.
Talking to PinkNews, the Labour politician invited Trump and other anti-LGBT politicians to visit London and see how the LGBT community improves the city.
He told PinkNews: “My message to Donald Trump and others around the world who don’t recognise the huge contribution the LGBT+ community can make is to come to London and see the contribution they do make.
“They help make London the greatest city in the world. Economically, culturally and socially I want London to be a beacon for the rest of the world in how we do it.”
The Mayor added that he was incredibly proud to be at the Pride march taking place in the centre of London today.
“I’m proud to be here today for what is the biggest Pride ever,” he said. “The biggest Pride in Pride’s history, the biggest Pride in London’s history.
Khan said that he wanted to send a message to all Londoners and those visiting the capital.
“The key message I want to send out is that here in London you’re free to be who you want to be and you’re free to love who you want to love.”
Khan, who revealed earlier this week that he owns a “MASC” shirt, also addresses the recent terror attacks and Grenfell Tower disaster in London.
“I understand why the last few weeks have been terrible for so many Londoners and the awful tragedy of Grenfell Tower and we’ve had terror attacks here in London.
“We’re making sure that today is successful and we’re saying what better antidote is there to the sorrow, sadness and bereavement the terror than this event today.”
The Mayor added that he was going to spend the day focussing on the message of love and use it to promote inclusivity.
“Love happens here is a powerful message. My response to hatred is love. My response to those who want to divide and try to unite us and my message to those who want to send a message that somehow we’re going to change as a city is this: we’re not.”
He also used the opportunity to speak out against discrimination in light of the attacks. He insisted that bringing together different groups who face discrimination was important.
“The great thing about the LGBT + community is that over the years I’ve worked closely with them in solidarity, making sure we promote equality and eliminate discrimination.
“There are common causes here. I’m a religious minority, and ethnic minority and I want to be tolerated and I want to be respected and embraced as do the LGBT plus community,” he added.
Underground stations in the capital recently received a rainbow makeover ahead of Pride.
To mark the Pride in London festival, which launched earlier this week ahead of the Pride parade today (July 8), Transport for London is giving parts of the city’s transport network a new rainbow design.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan launched the campaign, posing with a #loveislove roundel.
They admitted that they had “misjudged” the series of adverts which included the messages “I’m a straight man with gay pride”, “My gay friends make me more attractive by association” and “being homophobic is sooo gay”.
