London Pride protest expected over Government's treatment of gay refugees » Communities » 24dash.com

Gay and lesbian revellers plan to protest against the Government's treatment of gay people from other countries at the London Pride parade tomorrow.

The theme of this year's event in London is Fairy Tales, Myths And Legends, and organisers promise "a colourful procession of beaux and beauty, princes and prancers, debutantes and dancers." They expect a turnout of more than half a million.

Campaigners will use the event to voice their anger about what they see as the Government's failure to give refugee status to the gay victims of persecution in other countries.

Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, will be among the politicians speaking on the main stage in Trafalgar Square at 3pm. But gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell warned that she was likely to be in for a rough ride.

He said: "One of the biggest issues tomorrow will be the Government's mistreatment of lesbian and gay asylum seekers."

But the Home Office defended its record on the issue.

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "We consider each case on its individual merits and will continue to provide refuge for those asylum seekers with a genuine need for protection."

Festival-goers will also draw attention to the persecution of gay people in countries such as Iran, Jamaica, Nigeria and Uganda.

Tatchell himself plans to carry a placard mocking Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in protest against the country's treatment of its gay population.

His placard will depict a doctored photo of the Iranian leader wagging his finger while wearing make-up and jewellery, accompanied by a caption accusing him of being a murderer and homophobe.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, who has also been accused of homophobia in the past, may be in for an easier ride when he takes to the stage in Trafalgar Square however.

Tatchell said: "There's still a degree of suspicion and hostility to Boris Johnson but more and more people are coming around to the view that we should give him a chance."

Boris Johnson caused controversy when he wrote of civil partnerships: "If gay marriage was OK - and I was uncertain on the issue - then I saw no reason in principle why a union should not be consecrated between three men, as well as two men, or indeed three men and a dog."

He will attempt to put this behind him when he leads the Pride parade of floats and performers from Baker Street, through the West End, to Trafalgar Square tomorrow afternoon.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will also take to the stage in Trafalgar Square.

Actor Sir Ian McKellen will present part of the show, while singer-songwriter Sandi Thom and 1990s pop act Culture Beat will perform.

The party will continue in Soho with more music and dance performances.

The parade is expected to be picketed, as it has been previously, by certain hostile Christian groups.

Lesbian and gay church groups meanwhile will be campaigning in support of the ordination of gay clergy, an issue that has caused a schism in the Anglican Communion.

The unity of the 77-million strong Communion has been under threat since the 2003 consecration in the US of the openly gay bishop of New Hampshire Gene Robinson.

About 3,000 traditionalist bishops attended the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) in Jerusalem last month, where they called for the creation of a council of primates and said the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan William's authority over the Communion should end.

The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, a movement set up at the Jerusalem conference, is opposing liberalisation of church teachings on issues including homosexuality.