Ukip is going to be in London's Pride parade for the first time ever

Ukip is going to take part in London's annual gay pride parade later this month.

The decision by organisers to give the right-wing party a position in the parade for the first time has been met with anger from those who point to Ukip's hypocritical stance on gay rights.

A petition on Change.org to remove Ukip from the parade says that the party doesn't hold "the values of acceptance that Pride promotes", pointing out that Ukip was the only major party not to mention LGBT rights in its manifesto this year at all.

Nigel Farage has also stated that he is personally opposed to gay marriage and wants to create a "conscience clause" in equality legislation to accommodate people who want to refuse goods and services to gay people such as cakes or rooms in B&Bs.

Alleged incidents of homophobia from other Ukip members include councillor David Silvester blaming bad weather in 2014 on the legalisation of same-sex marriage, and MEP Roger Helmer's comment that homophobia is not real discrimination but a left-wing "propaganda device."

The petition reads:

Nigel Farage, leader of Ukip, clearly does not support the values of acceptance that Pride promotes, and Ukipis an inherently homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, racist and misogynistic political party. Ukip's inclusion in Pride has already caused public outcry and many have stated they would feel unhappy and unsafe to have a Ukip group included in Pride 2015’s march... Please remove Ukip from the parade line up.

A Ukip spokesperson told The Independent that the party had happily accepted an invitation to Pride. "Those who would ban us should reflect on how equality is achieved. Not by exclusion, but dialogue and inclusion," he added.

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