Little Mix stars Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock join Mermaids at Pride in London
Little Mix stars Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock at Pride in London (Mermaids)
Little Mix stars Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock marched alongside trans children’s charity Mermaids at Pride in London.
The two singers, who are both vocal supporters of LGBT+ rights, took part in the parade alongside the charity for trans children on Saturday (July 6).
Mermaids tweeted: “We’re incredibly excited that Jade and Leigh-Anne from @LittleMix will be joining Mermaids on the #TogetherInPride bus for the @PrideInLondon Parade ??
“Their visible support of trans kids means the world to so many young transgender people and their families?”
We’re incredibly excited that Jade and Leigh-Anne from @LittleMix will be joining Mermaids on the #TogetherInPride bus for the @PrideInLondon Parade ??
Their visible support of trans kids means the world to so many young transgender people and their families?#PrideInLondon pic.twitter.com/pXCp2yei0J
— Mermaids ??♀️ (@Mermaids_Gender) July 6, 2019
A year on from an incident that saw 2018’s Pride in London parade derailed by anti-trans protests, Mermaids are marching as part of the ‘Together in Pride’ coalition alongside other groups reflecting the diversity of the LGBT+ community.
LGBT+ charities march as ‘Together in Pride’
Stonewall CEO Ruth Hunt explained: “This 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising is a chance to pay homage to those who came before us and recognise how their courage paved the way for the progress we’ve made.
“That’s why at this year’s Pride in London, Level Up, Mermaids, Imaan, Stonewall, UK Black Pride, ParaPride, Sparkle and many other LGBT+ groups from different parts of our communities will be marching as one collective group – Together in Pride.
“It is by standing together, arm in arm with each other, that we show the true power and resilience of our diverse community.”
This is what it’s all about:
Diversity
Celebration
Visibility#PrideDespite the obstacles trans children and young people have to overcome, for those on the @PrideInLondon Parade today, this will be a day to remember!
Give them a big cheer! ???#PrideInLondon #TogetherInPride pic.twitter.com/Y0DDd8wmJX
— Mermaids ??♀️ (@Mermaids_Gender) July 6, 2019
Mermaids have other high-profile supporters including Harry Potter star Emma Watson.
Little Mix are strong supporters of LGBT+ rights
Little Mix made a splash in March this year by performing a gay anthem underneath a giant rainbow flag at a show in the United Arab Emirates, where homosexuality is a crime.
A giant Pride flag appeared over the band as they performed “Secret Love Song, Pt. II,” which includes the lyrics: ““Why can’t I hold you in the street?/Why can’t I kiss you on the dance floor?/I wish that it could be like that/Why can’t it be like that?”
Thirlwall previously confirmed the second track is about LGBT+ rights, and dedicated a performance of the same song to the LGBT+ community in 2017 after the shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando.
Jade Thirlwall spoke out in 2018 about being a proud LGBT ally, after taking part in Manchester Pride.
She told the Manchester Evening News: “I was really excited to be part of today and to spend time talking with young people about what it means to be an ally.
“It was really emotional actually. I feel like as someone in the public eye and as an artist it’s our duty to raise awareness.”
She added: “We have a lot of LGBT fans and it’s really important for us to encourage them to be who they are and to celebrate that through our music.”
