Thousands of people descended on central Birmingham this weekend to celebrate equal love, as costumes, colour and political protest dominated Birmingham Pride weekend.

Armed with placards and banners demanding the recognition of same-sex marriage; activists, politicians, and revellers took to the streets to march for equality before celebrating the diversity and visibility of the city’s LGBT+ community.

With guests from across the country joining Brummies for the UK’s largest two-day Pride festival, the city was awash with rainbow flags, brightly-coloured costumes, music, song, dance and positivity as a procession of walking groups and boisterous floats paraded through the city centre streets from Victoria Square to Hurst Street.

In the city’s LGBT+ quarter – commonly know as ‘The Village’ – attendees enjoyed an endless array of stalls showcasing rainbow accessories, jewellery, clothes, glitter and glamour alongside food & drink kiosks, dance tents, information stands; and not forgetting the city’s lesbian and gay entertainment venues overflowing with crowds spilling into the busy streets.

Although an ticketed space, the streets of the Southside district were heaving with partygoers enjoying dance music, fairground rides, street drinking and merriment, as a confidently loud and proud Mardi Gras vibe took over this queer corner of Brumtown.

Among A-list music stars JLS, Paloma Faith and 80s legends Bananarama, the event also welcomed X Factor finalists Rylan Clark, Lucy Spraggan, Misha B and Kitty Brucknell to grace several stages dotted around the large outdoor festival site.

Human rights activist Peter Tatchell and MEP Michael Cashman led the Pride parade alongside festival director Lawrence Barton, and greeted visitors to the celebration as hundreds of spectators lined the streets to watch drag queens, a samba band and scantily-clad dancers march by.

GALLERY: LGBT+ celebrations at Birmingham Pride 2013

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Muscle boy strippers at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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1970s chic at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Pride float at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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LGBT football team at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Colourful rainbow flag design Adam Yosef

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'Equal Love' gay pride placards and banners groupAdam Yosef

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A man in costume on stilts eating ice cream Adam Yosef

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'Pride is a protest' placard and man with whistleAdam Yosef

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Spectators lined the streets to watch the Pride parade go byAdam Yosef

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Pride marches past the Rotunda and Bullring in BirminghamAdam Yosef

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A woman smiles in a car during the Pride parade Adam Yosef

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Someone's at the Door samba band Adam Yosef

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Young man with rainbow face paintAdam Yosef

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Spectators watch Someone's at the Door samba band lead the Pride parade Adam Yosef

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Two Pride attendees dressed as Batman and Robin Adam Yosef

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Pride revellers smile with rainbow flagsAdam Yosef

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A Pride parade participant in a drag bride costume Adam Yosef

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Marchers cheer as they carry the Pride rainbow flag Adam Yosef

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Friends enjoying Birmingham Pride 2013Adam Yosef

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Pride parade protesters march through Birmingham Adam Yosef

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A Pride attendee with a large rainbow flag Adam Yosef

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A man in stilts in costume Adam Yosef

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A man draped with a rainbow cape Adam Yosef

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A group of drag artists on mobility scooters take part in the Pride parade Adam Yosef

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A group of muscled male strippers at Pride Adam Yosef

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The Pride parade passes by The Green Room in Hurst Street, Birmingham city centre Adam Yosef

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A rainbow Unison banner is carried by trade union members, with Prowler gay store muscle men walking aheadAdam Yosef

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Someone's at the Door samba band memberAdam Yosef

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Pride parade with floats in Moor Street Adam Yosef

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An attendee with a whistle and rainbow Pride flagAdam Yosef

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Marching with a Pride rainbow flag past the Selfridges building in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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LGBT+ human rights activist Peter Tatchell with journalist and activist Adam Yosef at Birmingham Pride 2013Adam Yosef

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Human rights activist Peter Tatchell leads the Birmingham Pride 2013 parade alongside Pride director Lawrence Barton and Michael Cashman MEP Adam Yosef

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Someone's at the Door samba band march past Selfridges building in BirminghamAdam Yosef

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A reveller dressed up as a vicar at Pride Adam Yosef

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A Socialist Worker stall at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Latex rubber costume at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Muscle male strippers at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Human rights activist Peter Tatchell leads the Birmingham Pride 2013 parade alongside Michael Cashman MEP Adam Yosef

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Someone's at the Door samba band marches at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Young person in a yellow onesie at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Attendee is a sailor outfit at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Young attendee with 'I Love Pride' face paint stamp Adam Yosef

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Someone's at the Door samba band march past the Rotunda at Birmingham Pride paradeAdam Yosef

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Revellers in Pride rainbows and wigs at Pride Adam Yosef

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Geoff Dexter marching at Birmingham Pride with rainbow flags Adam Yosef

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Someone's at the Door samba band Adam Yosef

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Drag costume at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Pink and black face paint make-up Adam Yosef

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Birmingham Pride director Lawrence Barton and LGBT human rights activist Peter Tatchell lead the parade Adam Yosef

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Revellers at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Pride rainbow flags displayed in Tesco in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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'Out and Proud' Socialist Worker placard banner at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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GMB trade union at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Someone's at the Door samba band lead the Pride parade Adam Yosef

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L-R: Michael Cashman MEP, Lawrence Barton, and Peteter Tatchell lead the Pride parade in BirminghamAdam Yosef

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L-R: Birmingham Pride director Lawrence Barton speaks, standing alongside co-director David Nash, and human rights activist Peter Tatchell Adam Yosef

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Someone's at the Door samba band in Victoria Square, Birmingham Adam Yosef

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Scout Pride group at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Drag bride and groom costumes at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Drag bride and groom kissing costumes at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Michael Cashman MEP at Birmingham Pride 2013Adam Yosef

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A mascot at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Near naked muscle men in briefs pose for Selfridges at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Group at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) group at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Pink drag costumes at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Feather costume and rainbow flags Adam Yosef

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LGBT+ human rights activist Peter Tatchell with a 'Say I do to Equal Love' placardAdam Yosef

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Pride march in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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Pride float and rainbow flag Adam Yosef

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Near naked muscle men in briefs pose for Selfridges at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Rainbow flag face paint at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Lesbian Pride "I Love Gays - Proud Lesbro" t-shirtAdam Yosef

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Naked muscle men with Prowler gay storeAdam Yosef

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Pride revellerAdam Yosef

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Twiggy Birmingham drag queen artist in costume Adam Yosef

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Comic book superhero character costumes at LGBT Pride Adam Yosef

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Socialist Worker member Claudia Campbell at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Young child holds up rainbow decoration Adam Yosef

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Drag queen artist on a float Adam Yosef

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Unison rainbow pride banner Adam Yosef

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Pride march Adam Yosef

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Near naked muscle men in briefs pose for Selfridges at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Young men with rainbow flag Adam Yosef

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Guy with pride rainbow face paintAdam Yosef

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Birmingham Pride march 2013 Adam Yosef

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Michael Cashman MEP, Lawrence Barton, and Peter Tatchell lead the Pride Adam Yosef

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Steph Keeble and Birmingham LGBT Centre Adam Yosef

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Rainbow floatAdam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band memberAdam Yosef

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Peter Tatchell and Michael Cashman at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Rainbow hearts flagAdam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band rainbow flag Adam Yosef

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Naked muscle men in briefs pose for Selfridges at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Rainbow pride balloons float Adam Yosef

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Naked Prowler gay store guys on parade Adam Yosef

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Rainbow flag pride police officer Adam Yosef

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Woman with rainbow Pride attire costume Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band at PrideAdam Yosef

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Peter Tatchell waves at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Naked nude twinks guy in briefs at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Crowds in Birmingham watching the Pride parade Adam Yosef

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A bisexual flag at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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A reveller at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Drag vicar and nun costumes at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band Adam Yosef

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Scout PrideAdam Yosef

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Birmingham LGBT Centre banner at Pride Adam Yosef

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Red Big Bus at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Revellers at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Drag costume at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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'Equal Love' protest placards and banners at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Leather kink wear at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Blowing bubbles in rainbow costume at Pride Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band Adam Yosef

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Doug Morgan and Geoff Dexter at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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'Equal Love' at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Face paint revellers at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Young revellers at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Smiling with a rainbow furry costumeAdam Yosef

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Rainbow cowboy hat at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Rainbow Hawaiian garland necklace at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Birmingham Pride parade 2013 Adam Yosef

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Drag queen costume Adam Yosef

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Girls posing during Pride weekend Adam Yosef

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Pink feather boa at Pride Adam Yosef

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Young guys posing on a float at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Pride parade group members Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band Adam Yosef

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Two young revellers smiling at Pride Adam Yosef

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Rainbow flag face paint person smiling during the Pride parade Adam Yosef

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Michael Cashman MEP, Lawrence Barton and Peter Tatchell lead Birmingham Pride parade 2013 Adam Yosef

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Twiggy and drag queens at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Twiggy and drag queens at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba bandAdam Yosef

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1970s red afro nostalgia wigs and flaresAdam Yosef

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Peter Tatchell marching at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Birmingham Pride parade marching through the city centreAdam Yosef

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Michael Cashman MEP, Lawrence Barton and Peter Tatchell lead Birmingham Pride parade 2013 Adam Yosef

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Rainbow flags and sunglassesAdam Yosef

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Young person with rainbow flag at Pride Adam Yosef

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Rainbow flags in the crowd during the paradeAdam Yosef

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Rainbow reveller at Pride Adam Yosef

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'Equal Love' placards on Pride marchAdam Yosef

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Drag artist with stunning make-up at Pride Adam Yosef

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UK Pleasure Boys strippers and dancers at Pride Adam Yosef

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Bright yellow costume at Pride Adam Yosef

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UK Pleasure Boys muscle guy, stripper and dancer Adam Yosef

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'Equal Love' placards on Pride marchAdam Yosef

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Peter Tatchell marching at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Man at Pride Adam Yosef

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Boys at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Michael Cashman MEP, Lawrence Barton and Peter Tatchell lead Birmingham Pride parade 2013 Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba bandAdam Yosef

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Drag nun at Pride Adam Yosef

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Drag cabaret artist Twiggy with friends at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Pride supporter watches the parade Adam Yosef

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'Adam & Steve' float banner at Birmingham Pride with man with sunglasses in costume Adam Yosef

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Man with rainbow headdress during Pride Adam Yosef

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Michael Cashman and Peter Tatchell for Equal Love at Pride Adam Yosef

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Drag queen costume at Pride Adam Yosef

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Rainbow flags and accessories on sale at PrideAdam Yosef

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Rainbow flag at Pride Adam Yosef

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Nandos restaurant staff in pink t-shirts at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Rainbow mohican haircut at Pride Adam Yosef

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Young people march during Birmingham Pride in 2013 Adam Yosef

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A toddler with a Pride rainbow decoration Adam Yosef

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Photographer Jas Sansi taking photographs at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Prowler gay adult store guys nude naked at Birmingham PrideAdam Yosef

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Waving the rainbow Pride flag in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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Reveller with rainbow t-shirt at Pride Adam Yosef

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Long rainbow hair at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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People on a Pride float Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band marching past the Rotunda in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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Black rubber fetish puppy costume at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Peter Tatchell marching in front of the Rotunda building in Birmingham city centre during PrideAdam Yosef

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Michael Cashman MEP, Lawrence Barton and Peter Tatchell lead Birmingham Pride parade 2013 with Rotunda in backgroundAdam Yosef

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Man with rainbow flowers and whistle at PrideAdam Yosef

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Drag costumes at Pride Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band Adam Yosef

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David Nash with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and Peter Tatchell at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Drag queen at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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'I Love Pride' face paint stamp in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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Drag Queens with The Village float at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Birmingham Pride 2013 logo on a parade float Adam Yosef

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Drag queen costumes at Pride Adam Yosef

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Michael Cashman MEP, Lawrence Barton and Peter Tatchell lead Birmingham Pride parade 2013 Adam Yosef

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Parade float with drag queenAdam Yosef

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Man with rainbow face paint at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Children with rainbow flags at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Naked nude muscle men promoting Selfridges store at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Photographer Chris Gibson at Birmingham Pride 2013Adam Yosef

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Naked nude muscle guy, stripper dancer with UK Pleasure Boys Adam Yosef

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Michael Cashman MEP, Lawrence Barton and Peter Tatchell lead Birmingham Pride parade 2013 with Rotunda in backgroundAdam Yosef

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A policeman stands watch as the Pride parade passes by in BirminghamAdam Yosef

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A man waves a rainbow Pride flag in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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Peter Tatchell in Birmingham in front of The Rotunda Adam Yosef

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'Say I Do to Equal Love' banner at Birmingham Pride parade Adam Yosef

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Revellers on a Pride parade float in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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A person with rainbow dress and accessories during Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Adam Yosef

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Rosemary Cragg enjoys Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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People marching during the Birmingham Pride parade in 2013 Adam Yosef

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A person with red hair and red face paint in a heart shape during Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Man drumming as part of Someone at the Door samba band Adam Yosef

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A muscle man poses naked nude promoting Prowler gay store Adam Yosef

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Two women smiling at Birmingham Pride Adam Yosef

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Smiling woman in full red dress and costume with rainbow hair at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Woman with whistle at Pride Adam Yosef

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A reveller at Pride Adam Yosef

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Geoff Dexter marches during Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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A Welsh Wales rainbow Pride flag in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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Spectators watch the Birmingham Pride parade Adam Yosef

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Masked revellers on a Pride float Adam Yosef

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A drag queen on a Pride float Adam Yosef

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Smiling and cheering during the Pride parade Adam Yosef

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Unison trade union LGBT Pride banner on parade in Birmingham Adam Yosef

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'Out and Proud' LGBT Socialist Worker banner and smiling man at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yosef

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Smiling Birmingham Pride attendee Adam Yosef

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Michael Cashman MEP, Lawrence Barton and Peter Tatchell lead Birmingham Pride parade 2013 Adam Yosef

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Someone at the Door samba band Adam Yosef

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UK Pleasure Boys stripper muscle boys with girls at Pride Adam Yosef

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Michael Cashman speaks to crowds alongside Peter Tatchell at Birmingham Pride 2013 Adam Yoef

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Crowds listen to speak ahead of the Birmingham Pride parade launch in 2013 Adam Yosef
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