By Nazifa Khan
The announcement of The Independent's exclusive year-long partnership with Pride in London is a significant step forward in the publication's devotion to the LGBTQIA+ community. This collaboration comprises various editorial, commercial and marketing enterprises, extending beyond pride month and the Pride in London parade. As a result, The Independent will rebrand The Rainbow List as “The Pride List” and honour remarkable people who are advancing the LGBTQIA+ community. The judging panel for The Pride List will consist of members from The Independent and Pride in London, ensuring a collaborative approach.
To amplify coverage, not only is The Independent set to create a dedicated “Pride Hub,” making LGBTQIA+ stories accessible to over seventy million readers globally but their editorial team is also generating features that provide daily coverage with the help of Pride in London. Advertisement for Pride in London will appear throughout the newspaper, with the backing of social media channels in addition to the editorial content. In similar fashion, The Independent will be widely promoted throughout the year during Pride in London events.
During Pride in London’s 2023 parade on 1 July, The Independent's branding will be visible along the entire route reaffirming its commitment to equality. The Independent's team will march alongside 500 charities, businesses and community groups, in front of a crowd of up to two million people. Additionally, The Independent intends to allocate a significant amount of advertising inventory to promote Pride in London. On top of that, they will be making a donation to the Unity Fund, supporting grassroots organisations in London that positively impact the lives of individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Geordie Greig, Editor-in-Chief at The Independent, took pleasure in the publication's unwavering support for the LGBTQIA+ community. The Pride List, according to Greig, “will honour those who have done the most to make change happen in our society.” Their commitment will extend beyond a year, ensuring support for individuals who identify as LBGTQIA+ every day. Christopher Joell-Deshields, CEO of Pride in London, welcomed The Independent as their official news partner once again, highlighting the alignment between their “commitment to amplifying the voices and stories of the LGBT+ community” and the “mission to celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity.” Through the Pride Hub, they aim to create a powerful platform for sharing news and experiences important to the community.
By working together, the LGBTQIA+ community will have achieved the steadfast support of the one and only news publisher to do so.