London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he was incredibly proud to be at the Pride march in London on Saturday.
Speaking at the event he said: “I’m proud to be here today for what is the biggest Pride ever. 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.”
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.
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Khan says he is a believing and practising Muslim so his embrace of homosexuality will not sit well with many members of the Muslim community. Homosexuality is strictly prohibited in Islam and there is no difference of opinion on this from any reputable scholar in any Islamic sect.
