Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley will lead a debate in the House of Commons to celebrate 50 years of Pride in the UK.

Supported by 26 MPs from five parties, the debate on Thursday 30th June will give LGBTQIA+ parliamentarians the opportunity to share their experiences and celebrate the wider community across the UK.

Pride is a month-long celebration of the establishment of the LGBTQIA+ rights movement that followed the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969.

Three years later, the first official UK Gay Pride Rally took place in London on 1st July 1972.

Pride month runs from 1st to 30th June and is a celebration of the successes of the diverse LGBTQIA+ community while raising awareness of continuing discrimination and issues affecting the members of the community.

Recent progress for the LGBTQIA+ community comes after decades of campaigning in civic society and although significant progress has been made, more can be done to make the UK a safer and fairer place for the community and to spread that message of tolerance and acceptance throughout the world.

Commenting, Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley said:

“As an LGBTQIA+ MP, I can think of no better way to celebrate 50 years of Pride in the UK than to hold a debate in the House of Commons.

“I know how powerful it is to witness debates in the House as you feel that you are represented and that you are being heard.

“Pride is not only a celebration of the incredible progress of the LGBTQIA+ rights movement, it is also a reminder of how far we still have to go to become the tolerant and accepting society we can be.”