This weekend, our club marched in solidarity with GayGooners at 2023's Pride in London.
Our customised double-decker float took to the streets of the capital to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride month with staff, supporters and our GayGooners supporters group in a parade that was attended by over 30,000 people.
After kicking off at our partner Lavazza's flagship store, the afternoon's celebrations included a spirited journey down the parade route and a special rendition of Louis Dunford's 'North London Forever' in full voice.
Arsenal Pride 🌈@GayGooners ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NM1MJQARTr
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 1, 2023
GayGooners celebrated their tenth anniversary this February and first marched in the capital's Pride parade in 2013 - the first LGBTQ+ supporters group in UK football to do so. One decade later and now 1,600 strong, the community continues to do vital work in creating a safe and joyful home for all Arsenal supporters.
To find out more about the Gay Gooners supporters’ group, visit their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages.
For Lisa, adorned in an LGBTQ+ Pride cape whilst waving an Arsenal flag, marching with the GayGooners was an unforgettable experience: "From being a Junior Gunner when I was a little kid to coming out, my family accepting me and knowing that there was a group out there that still loved me, that I could still be a part of - that meant everything. The beautiful game was still there for me."
Once the parade had come to a close on Saturday afternoon, Hannah Stanislaus gave an impassioned performance of a poem they had written in front of a sea of fellow GayGooners. This is their poem in full:
Stonewall riots started this all off
After they raided the Stonewall Inn Basement to Loft
To eradicate us
A so-called sin
We will show them love, not hate, will always win
Here at the Audley Public House
We march in the parade
Not quiet as a mouse
But roaring like lions
Defending our Pride
2023 - let's make some noise.
Photographer Susana Ferreira also joined us at the march and you can see all of her snapshots in the gallery below.
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